Even when I want to just curl up in a ball and shut out the world, I can’t. There is a certain small person that needs food and diapers and fresh air. So I put on clothes (unmatching) and put my hair in a ponytail (super messy) and left the house. I think I remembered shoes. I brought along that small person, who absolutely refused to remove the princess dress she’d pulled on over her clothes. Whatevah. Princess in Target, no big whoop.
If you ever want to distract people from your tired swollen eyes, might I suggest always having a child in costume with you? No one will bother looking at you at all. In fact, they will crash into things because they are too busy looking at the little girl in the princess dress playing with cars.
The girl in the princess dress can sense something is off. She says, “Mama, what’s wrong,” with such urgency and understanding that I sometimes think she is the parent. I need to do a better job of hiding my sads.
It was a treat for her to come along to the store with me. There are so many distractions for a little one, and I like to get in and get out. But this time I let her wander and touch, and as I watched I was thankful for the opportunity to do something as simple as observe my child.
Even when she flipped out because I wouldn’t buy her Cars training pants.
Things are out of control and out of my control, but I have a small person in a princess dress that wants hugs and tickles.
That is something I can manage.
katrina @ They All Call Me Mom says:
Oh my gosh. The tantrum? I love it! Why did that make me laugh so much? Probably because you took a PICTURE of it!
I love that you took a picture of her doing that in the middle of Target.
On another note, when you are sad or hurting and just want to curl up and stay in bed all day long…you just can’t when you have a toddler. You have to get UP and start your day…UP UP UP for their sake. It can be a good thing, actually. It can be a slight distraction from what you’ve got going on emotionally. There’s something about having to function for someone else…that keep you afloat during hard times.
Hugs.
Jenn says:
(((HUGS)))
Lynn from For Love or Funny says:
LOVE that picture of Annie melting down on the Target floor. That image kicked me out of my sads. Hope you are feeling better…
Sue says:
I wish, with all of my heart, that you would never have to experience even one day of this kind of sadness, Heather. Annie is
“so pretty” that I would let her wear any darn thing that she chose to wear…no matter where I was going!
I hope that you feel beeter today, Heather,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,lots and lots of hugs to you………..
Sue Rissel says:
(((((HUGS))))) Love you Heather and Mike and Annie. Thinking of you madly today.
Meghan says:
The tantrum is awesome. Not only is she crying, but splayed out in perfect form on the floor. Well done Annie, well done.
Ro says:
Yes! Perfect form….I burst out laughing (at work no less) when this picture rolled up…know this was over Cars undies….still
lmao!
Shan says:
I too let Carter shop in full costume…Iron Man in Wally World on any given day. I was reading this post with a goofy smile on my face thinking about just how wonderful it is to watch your little one explore the store sometimes. When I got to the Cars Traning Pants…I did laugh out loud. Love it girl. Annie really wanted those training pants!! Love it! Meltdown Aisle 4!
Tracy says:
Love the tantrum picture! The one I have of my daughter throwing a fit at Disney when she was 2 is one of my favorite pictures today! LOL!
ColleenMN says:
My daughter wore her pink ballet tutu and black cowboy boots to her first T-Ball game. The coaches loved it. She wore that same outfit to the zoo to see the robotic dinosaurs as well. Didn’t care, nothing to waste sweat over. Someone should do a coffee table book on kids’ tantrums. I would pay big bucks for that one, get going, Heather!
Margie says:
YES! I’m pregnant with my first child and I cannot wait to take pictures of all the good and ugly just so I can show it to them in the future, maybe their wedding. AHAHAHA!!
Becca says:
Thinking of you all today.
(and yes, that tantrum picture is hilarious!)
Adrianne says:
Aw, Heather, I’m so sorry that things are rough right now (rougher than usual I should say, as I know the sadness is never very far). I’m glad you have Annie by your side to help ease the pain just a little bit, tantrums and all! And yes, that tantrum picture is priceless! I have a feeling that will be a funny story for the two of you to laugh about together some day:)
Joelle says:
Just wanted to say that you’re doing a wonderful job with Annie, and that one of the healthiest things you can do as a parent is to be sad and let your child know it’s OKAY to be sad. I don’t think it’s a matter of you not hiding it well enough at all or doing anything WRONG.
Kristin says:
I agree! I also think it’s ok to tell her why you’re sad. She’s known Maddie her whole life through pictures and videos and most importantly from you and Mike. You can honor her memory with Annie by missing her.
J+1 says:
I am so sorry you’re having a rough time of it, Heather.
I love the tantrum pic. I really admire how toddlers go ALL OUT, no holds barred– even as it exhausts me.
Rachel says:
Sorry you have the sads Heather. Love the pic of the tantrum, but if I knew your address I’d go to my Target store, buy Cars training pants, and mail them to Annie ASAP. Of course, by the time they arrived from ND, she wouldn’t want them anymore. Toddlers have a right to change their minds, often! =)
Hugs to your family!
cindy w says:
Sometimes the distraction of a small kid is a wonderful thing, because they have all of these needs and wants that you have to attend to. Then there are other times that… yeah, they have all these needs and wants, and you just want to curl up in a ball and drown out the world. It’s a mixed bag, is I guess what I’m saying.
I do love that picture of her on-the-floor tantrum in the princess dress, I have to say. Save that one for her rehearsal dinner.
Jamie says:
Oh, Heather. Hang in there, girlfriend. You’re doing a great job with that sweet little Annie. Remember to take care of yourself, too.
Rebecca says:
Love love love Target! We do our shopping and tell the kids if they are very well behaved we’ll let them play (only play) with the toys in the toy aisle. They know we will not buy them anything so they won’t even ask. They are 6 and 4 years old. It wastes at least 30 minutes of time but at least we get our shopping done in peace.
Kelly @ JourneysAndDetours says:
Princess costume for a Target shopping trip– been there too I’m sorry you are having a rough time, Heather. Good thing we have our little princesses to help ease the pain.
Trisha says:
Love that you let her keep her princess costume on, that’s too cool! I’m so sorry you are having to endure such sadness. It seems so damn unfair that one person should ahv eto go through so much of it.
Sending hugs your way.
Just curious if you saw that lonely pair of super cute strappy coral sandals when Annie was looking at shoes? Those are adorbs but they probably wouldn’t have been the right size. Isn’t that always the luck when there is only one pair?!
Glenda says:
Thinking of you!
Peace & strength!
and Annie… absolutely fantabulous with her princess dress
Tracy says:
No Cars training pants????
Exactly WHAT kind of monster are you???
TonyaM says:
Hugs and prayers from Tennessee.
And, omg, flopped out in the floor of Target?! That’s all sorts of awesome! I wish I could have found my own so amusing when they did that. It would have added years to my life, I’m sure.
Also, you amaze me. Amidst the pain, you can find a way to make us laugh. You have such a beautiful spirit.
Sarah says:
“Things are out of control and out of my control, but I have a small person in a princess dress that wants hugs and tickles.”
YES.
AmazingGreis says:
Oh, Annie, you’re the cutest. Glad you have such a cute distraction Heather. Wish I was there to hug you. Hoping to come see you soon!
Ashley says:
My little man did that in Toys R Us b/c I made him get off the Elmo train (after 30mins)….. I figured as I was driving home I’d have every cop in Oklahoma on my tail … why?!? Because I am sure someone thought I was kidnapping him after the fit he threw…. When I got in the truck (after 10 mins or so of getting him buckled in) I just put my head back and laughed because it finally happened to ME. LOL I’d seen fits several times, but it was my little throwing the fit this time…..
Sorry you’re down in the dumps….
Kristen @ The Chronicles of Dutch says:
So sorry you have the sads, Heather.
That little face certainly put a smile on my face today Thanks for sharing!
tiffany day says:
i am sorry too am wondering what the bad news is? can you share?
xoTiffany
Lindsey says:
I can so relate. My three little ones – ages 4,3 and 1- were the only reasons I could get out of bed, breathe, etc after my divorce. I am so sorry it has been a hard day for you. Thinking of you and hoping tomorrow is better.
I agree with Tonya — you can still make us laugh even on one of those tough days. You are an inspiration to me and many. Hugs.
Meg...ct says:
Sorry you are so sad…
Wishing you peace and love…
Meg
PS>>>love love love the tantrum picture. We have certainly been witness to some classics as well.
Anna says:
That tantrum picture made me LAUGH! Glad you can share these things with us, even on your rough days. Thinking of you!
Jessica says:
Oh this is so my life. Read through your last few posts and we too have had some difficult news lately and it has sent my grief spiraling. I’m back to the “one foot in front of the other” days. Thanks goodness for our kids, living and not, who keep us going each day. I hope things start to look up for you soon Heather. If not, laying down on the floor in Target for a massive tantrum doesn’t sound half bad :).
Rachel Langer says:
Keep spinning Heather, she’ll thank you someday when she understands. And it’s OK to show her your sad, as long as it’s not the only thing you show her (which we can all see from your writings that is isn’t – she has a very full life of happy!)
She’s smart though, even mid-meltdown, she knows to show her hawt little boots off. She’ll make the paparazzo proud someday!!
Lanie says:
A princess along the journey always helps. I am so glad that Annie is with you – tantrums and all. Take care.
Margie says:
Hugs, Heather, Mike and Annie.
Sherry says:
I’m very sorry about your “sads”, wished there were something gentle I could say to help but honestly, I’m not good with words so I’d probably mess it up. On the brighter side, that picture of Annie on the floor throwing a fit about cars training pants…now THAT’S FUNNY! Love it (especially when it’s not MY kid doing it).