Mortifying

When I decided to have kids, I never really thought about the fact that they could cause me so much embarrassment in one sitting. Yesterday (August 2) we went school shopping for Tavion and got a few things for Jaiden as well. We were about 45 minutes from home and it was dinner time so we stopped at Golden Corral for dinner. Things were going good so far...or so I thought. I thought that everyone would eat and then we'd get back on the road. Boy was I wrong! To begin with, the waitress was a young blond and as a 9-year old (going on 20), Tavion is interested in girls. He told the waitress that she looked beautiful. Of course she blushed and said "thank you". As she turned to walk away, Jaiden yells out "Yeah, you're HOT!" Gee, thanks Jaiden for getting the attention of everyone in the restaurant. So we start eating and an elderly couple sits at the table behind us. Tavi and Eugene have their backs to the elderly couple and Tavi innocently starts telling Eugene that he needs to start using his ab machine because his stomach looks like "you know how when you get old and your stomach gets big and sags down", well, this brought a stare from the evil old lady. As a really nice mother (sarcastically speaking), I kick Tavion under the table and told him and Eugene that the woman behind them was elderly and heard him. This brought laughter from Eugene (real mature) and Tavi clapped his hand over his mouth, embarrassed (as he should have been). So dinner continued and Jaiden was done eating and chattering and making noises as any 4-year old does. A couple of times he got pretty loud and I admit, I was embarrassed by how he was acting. I was trying my best to quiet him down and get him to behave...it wasn't working. At one point I turn around and the old witch was again, turned around staring at my child. As the wonderful and well behaved mother that I am (what? I am.), I look at her and her husband and nicely asked "do you have a problem or can I help you with something?" Of course I have lost my voice so it didn't come out like I had intended it to but she got the picture and turned her wrinkly self back around. I was embarrassed that my children are acting up. I think they should be perfect. But then I realize that no child is perfect and they don't always act that way. I constantly remind myself of that when I see someone elses child acting up. I don't glare or get irritated, I give the parent a sympathetic, I know what you're going through, smile. Every day is a learning experience. Kids are kids and will behave as kids. If you don't want to hear it or see it, go to an adult restaurant, not a family friendly one.