Dear Addie,
This weekend we headed out to see what is known as America’s favorite pastime, a baseball game!
Now, this was no little league game like your brother used to play, this was the real deal stadium seating, announcer, mascot kinda game. Lucky for us, our town has its very own minor league team called The Holly Springs Salamanders (or iguanas as you call them) and they play at Ting Park literally right down the street. Score for Team Menzo!
With a bag full of anything you could possibly need - from snacks, to toys, to even a change of clothes, add in a great group of friends, my anxiety of what could go wrong and daddy’s confidence that everyone was going to have fun and it’s all going to go beautifully right (we are a perfect yin and yang in case you didn’t know) we were off to cheer on our home team! Go Salamanders!
Let’s do this!
First up, tickets. Now we all know waiting in line is not exactly your forté, or waiting in general for that matter, but your mama here used my distraction tactics mad skills and we made it through with minimal stress.
Next up the security checkpoint. Everyone happily walked through except for me who needed to get my bag checked. As the attendant, doing his due diligence, attempted to move things around in my jam-packed bag I jokingly told him “if you’re looking for the kitchen sink, I actually did leave that at home” we shared a laugh and I got the thumbs up to head on in.
The sights, the smells, the sounds it was all very exciting for you, but we were extra careful to look for signs that it may be becoming overwhelming all at the same time. Your stimming started coming faster and more frequent the moment we walked into the stadium, but you still seemed happy and truly enjoying the feel of it all.
We found our seats (perfectly next to no one directly!) and you immediately got comfy removing your shoes (headphones too) and placing them on the ground in front of you. Isn’t that what everyone does at a baseball game?!
Sitting somewhat content, looking around, stimming and clapping, enjoying some of your beloved “pink squares” (peanuts and crackerjacks aren’t really your thing), you were doing your best at taking it all in filtering through the whole scene. Then it happened. The moment every potty-training parent knows all too well - when their child suddenly stops what they are doing and stares down at their pants. Yep, just like that, we were quickly reminded that while you’ve been doing amazingly well with using the "baffroom" as you call it, accidents can happen - even at the ballpark.
worries Addie luckily mama was on her “A” game when packing your bag tonight and remembered a few extra pairs of pants - winning!
A quick change out of wet clothes and we were settled back into our seats. You were really starting to get into the excitement of it all this time around! Stimming and happily squealing with joy you started to bounce up and down. Addie If there was one thing we didn't anticipate being an issue it was the seats.
You see Ad, that joyful bouncing got progressively more intense and your seat unexpectedly folded up on you completely, causing you to drop straight to the ground but not without hitting the back of your neck on the seat first. Ouch! For a kiddo that doesn’t register pain quite like most, you began to sob. More than likely due to a combination of feeling some pain, scared at what had unexpectedly happened and betrayed by the seat you were sitting in. First and foremost, we took a good look at you and realized you were ok, but you were struggling to calm down, so we decided to take a little walk.
After we removed ourselves from the scene of such betrayal, the sobbing quickly changed to only intermittent spurts of crying and you seemed to be pulling it together. We gave a solid attempt to go back and sit with everyone, but you refused to return to what you now saw as those dreaded evil seats.
Not to worry, mommy and daddy took turns walking you around and you even scored an ice cream on daddy’s watch ;)
So, with a clothing change, few tears and a hometown win yay, you rallied and were all grins and giggles by the end!
You did it Ad! Baseball game in the books! Now the jury may still be out if you’ll return to sit in those seats ever again, but you did it!
Love, Mom
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