The kids had a teacher in-service day today. No school! And coincidence of all coincidences, we had a coupon for Chuck E. Cheese's. It was a good one, too. Not just a few free extra tokens or a dollar off. We're talking spend $20 for all-day fun.
So after Sam left for work (he's evenings this week) I loaded up the kids and we headed out to visit the large, cheesy rat. My plan was good - there were few people there at 4:30 in the afternoon. I am shocked, however, at the people that were there.
Okay, not shocked. Saddened would be more like it. Sure, you had the grandparents with their preschool aged grandchildren, and that was as cute as could be. In fact I was a tad jealous that the grandparents weren't at the Cheesy Rat's with my kids while I was at the mall next door.
It was the other people there that bothered me. You know, the couple whose combined age couldn't have equaled mine, carrying the 2 month old around playing games and pushing the preschool age children out of the way. The guy wearing baggy jeans hanging off his hips, sporting plaid boxers underneath, and a wallet chain long enough to tie the dog out with. And his girlfriend (wife?) that was sporting as much baby fat as I am but without the good sense to lay off the low-rise jeans paired with the midriff shirt. Honey, I don't care what you looked like pre-baby. Post-baby does nothing for you and we don't want to see that muffin pouring out above your jeans and falling out from underneath your shirt. It rather looks like the gooey, fatty cheese on the Rat's pizza and is a great appetite suppressant. The stretch marks? Did nothing to make it more appealing. I look like that and cannot criticize the fat rolls and stretch marks, but you'll notice that my pants did not allow the whole world to see my crack, and the baggy sweatshirt that I love so much hides a multitude of sins. Try it sometime, you may like it. I know I'd like it on you.
Thankfully my kids managed to miss that display of disgust and seemed to have a good time. Micah had minor meltdown because I actually expected him to sit on the seat where the coats were. Not on them, just beside them. Truly unacceptable. I had no idea. I then positioned him at the end of the seat so I was by the coats, but this also is not how one is expected to eat at a restaurant. I had to put him by the wall with the coats between us to achieve eating status. OCD, a little? I guess we've conditioned him to that, always putting him against the wall so that he can't run away easily. But I had no idea he simply couldn't eat unless he was sitting there. Silly me.
After exhausting our supply of tokens the kids waited patiently in line to cash in their tickets to the great monster eating machine. I pitied the people in line behind my kids. They thought it would be fun to tear every single ticket apart as they were waiting. Every. Single. Ticket. Do you know how long it takes to feed the machine 235 tickets, one at a time? More time than Micah has patience for. I'd had it with him by now and we still had to cash in.
At the cash-in counter I had no choice but to put him on my shoulders. It's the best place to keep tabs on him. He can't wiggle around and get away. He can (and does) mess up my hair, but it's a small price to pay for containment of a toddler. I'm just glad it's the age of natural hair and not the 80's when you'd spaz when someone dented the 'do.
We still have one coupon left. I think I'll save that for my husband to take the kids next time. Or convince the grandparents that it's a great place for bonding. That sounds like a plan.
27 comments:
Dumb blogger ate my comment again. I said something ala, having taught in the inner city, I so feel your pain on this one. Imagine trying to improve someone's chances in life by teaching them societal rules in dress (and disciplining any offender), only to see the 28 year old mother (I taught middle school) walk in in skin tight leather looking like a trampy whore. Like mother like daughter. Very sad. Made me cry.
You are so funny. I love the muffin top comment. I hate that place and can't believe you willingly took the kiddos there. We have to pass ours every Monday when I take Diva to dance. She always says she wants to go. Yuck!
Having worked at CEC when I was younger - if I remember correctly it was my first job. Sheesh, that was 16/17 years ago - man now I feel old. Anyway... sorry I got myself off track. As I was saying. Having worked at CEC when I was younger, I KNOW the people that go there. Some use it as a daycare. I can't tell you the many times I have seen parents drop the child off, and then LEAVE. I was there one time when two grown adults got into a fight over who was first in line to order thier pizza, and one picked up the HEAVY glass cake stand top and break it over the other lady's head. I hated when I had to be Chuck E. HATED IT. The kids were HORRIBLE. We werent allowed to talk, no matter how the kids were acting and what they were doing. (and being Chuck, you had to be careful you werent pushed down the steps, you head wasnt ripped off etc. etc.) I figured out a way to get back at the kids. I would be real nice, pat them on their head, maybe just half a whatever to hard, I would pick them up "accidently" hitting their head on Chucks nose. I didn't hurt them, but I guess that was my sort of passive agressive way of getting back at the little brats. I dont take my kids if I can help it. I just hate it that much.
I did like to work in the kitchen though. I remember working the salad bar with a really good friend of mine and we would stand on a stool in the kitchen and peek out through a hole in the wall (where the ice would be dumped into the soda machines) and a couple of times we would throw canteloupe at the people, and they didnt know there was a hole in the wall, and they would be freaking out trying to figure out where the flying fruit was coming from.
*sigh* to be 16 again working in a place where a kid can be a kid.
Lots of memories - good and bad for me there, haha. And yes, I know that I am not painting a good picture of myself, but in my defense I was 16.
~Jennifer
AFF - I cannot imagine having to work with that. It would be so discouraging to know that they see nothing wrong with it, and would simply take it as criticism.
Jennifer - Again, with the interesting life. ;) I've lived such a sheltered one that I had no idea people would fight over who orders pizza first. Black Friday sales I can understand, but that?! There?!
I know what you mean, about the kids with kids. It's sad to me, really. and I seem to see it more and more! I mean, like those years aren't hard enough without adding a big dose of having to be a parent. Yikes.
Still, my kids are too old for the Rat's place now...and I actually miss it sometimes!
Thanks!
BJ
I can't handle Chuck's place with just my two kids (Mr. Husband morphs into a bratty 8-year old when we walk through the door), I have no idea how you manage with your crew. I hate Chuck. I really do.
And Jennifer? I have a newfound respect for you. You WERE Chuck and lived to tell the tale. WOW!
kuddos to wrangling all four kids at chuckee's. I actually can't wait to bring Gavin there. We would go there for our lunch break at work as recent as 3 years ago...relatively decent pizza and no one on the skeeball machines!
Well, at least that couple seemed to be together even if they were vying for the same games as their own kid...more than the ghetto drama I get to see by me.
Ah yes, Charles Cheddar, the mad house of fun for all! You made a good call to go during the later afternoon. I had my son's birthday party there this year and planned the party for a week day and it was perfect! There was hardly anyone there and once people started filing in it was time to leave. Perfect! Your coupon sounds awesome! Where do I get one??! :)
Deanne - Coupon books are what we're selling for soccer this year. Yippee. At least they're better than candy bars. They're only good in our area though. At our one store. Not the other. Want one?
I laughed out loud, very loudly I might add, at this part:
I'm just glad it's the age of natural hair and not the 80's when you'd spaz when someone dented the 'do.
Shamefully, I had hair like that. Well, kind of. It really was fairly un-dentable. :)
I'm dreading the Cheesy Rat. I did notice however that as a kid, he was a plump little happy rat. Now he is a skinny, rad, extreme sports rat. C'mon, you ain't gonna look like that eating cheesy rat pizza every day!
ya, ya,... good plan... think the grandparents will adopt a couple of strange children and me and you can hit the mall????
I promise to wear my half shirt, low rise jeans, socks over my pants, slouch boots, and tease my 80's do to touch the roof of the car...
if only i had the hair still...lol
the muffin top stuff- F.U.N.N.Y!
I will only go to CEC if it is during week when I have a day off for some reason....otherwise-I feel like it is a mad house. I don't know how you did it with all your kids. You amaze me!
"that muffin pouring out above your jeans and falling out from underneath your shirt" ~~ also referred to as a broken can of biscuits.
Broken can of biscuits...ok, that is hysterical!! I'm going to have to use that in the future.
We did Chucky for Hope's bday last year, one friend and in the early afternoon...it was great now I'm so done with the rat...
So glad we are past that stage with our kids.
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You should have secretly pulled out your video camera and sent in some footage of that lady to What Not To Wear!
Do you all have a Dave and Buster's? It's like a big arcade for adults, and it's so much fun! I'm hoping the Pumpkin's grandparents take her to CEC while hubby and I go to D&B!!! Think we can pull that off someday?
Keri - sounds like a plan! But we'll ditch the 'do's. :)
Tootsie - It's good to know that people name that stuff. I just wish mine would go away. And nobody would expose theirs. Yuck.
Mama Bear - thanks! I'm honored.
Caramama - There's a D&B at Pittsburgh. We've seen it but haven't gone. The hubbs and I aren't into games. We're just dunces at it. But good luck with the grandparent exchange idea! Sounds fun.
I'm glad I'm not the only one that is appalled by the obliviousness of some people.
Pushing the kids who are actually big enough to play out of the way? Grrrr.
LOL.... I love people watching there! I have just as much fun as the kidoos do!
I so agree with you and the muffin top!! Why do people do that? Only a select few can wear low rise jeans. I have a few pairs of them from pre baby, and I only wear them to the barn with a big baggy sweatshirt! LOL!! Chucky Cheeses Brings out the best!!
Okay so I can't spell: Chuck E Cheese's!! :)
Is it bad that it literally THRILLS me that the nearest Cheesy Rat is about 60 mile from our house?
How come people insist on squirting their goods out of their too small clothes? I look at people and I just don't get it. Do they really look in the mirror and say "Dang, my muffin top looks HOT!" Weird.
P.s. I have a sweatshirt just like yours. It's older than Isaac, ugly as sin, totally thread bare and I LOVE it. :)
Andrea - I actually love low rise and will only buy them. But I'm short waisted and they fit me where normal jeans should. I STILL pair them with baggy sweatshirts.
Cecily - you crack me up! "Dang, my muffin top looks HOT" will have me laughing for days. Thanks!
And to think I thought our town was the only one would had the muffin top trend.
God love them (cause I can't)they obviously have no self esteem issues!
I came across your blog and have really enjoyed reading. We share the special bond of T21 and I can relate to most of what you just wrote here. From the low cut jeans not being for everyone to needing to eat seated by the wall. LOL I hope you don't mind if I add you to my list of "must reads" :)
I made the mistake to have Maddie's birthday party at Chuck E Cheese. Crazy place. I worried I might lose my mind, at one point. Then, didn't really care if I did, after i saw everyone else already had.
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