On more nights than not, it’s my job to pick up K-Man from his day care/school. There are any number of activities that might come following my securing “the package,” (as he is sometimes referred to around here). These include (as written about) visits to fire stations or the park, skipping rocks and the ever popular (and simple), “I wanna play in the car!” At least once a week, though, we hit K-Man’s favorite restaurant for his favorite meal: “pizza and a cookie” (and milk and salad, but he focuses on the important pieces!). Tonight we went for pizza and a cookie, only to be greeted by a most horrible sight.
It was closed indefinitely for renovation.
If K-Man were even four years old, I think he could have understood what was going on, but at the tender age of not-quite-three, there was no explaining it. Furthermore, since there were workers in the restaurant, he figured he should be able to go in, as well. (And, given the fact that the workers were wielding power tools that made great big, fun sounds…never mind the food – K-Man just wanted to do some interior damage!)
I’ve heard about kids that constantly ask, “Why” about any and every situation. K-Man’s take on this is, “What’s that man (or woman) doing, Daddy?” Since he couldn’t have his usual pizza and a cookie because of these men in his favorite restaurant, we played A LOT of “What’s that man doing, Daddy?” Since K-Man’s routine was interrupted, I was only too happy to oblige. “Well, he’s using a power saw to rip out the seats.”
“What’s that man doing, Daddy?” Oh, he’s using a sledgehammer to break up the tile floor. “What’s that man doing, Daddy?” That guy? He appears to be a supervisor. So, he’s not really doing anything. This went on for quite some time. Intermittently, I would ask him if he wanted to go to the restaurant next door for some other kind of dinner. Finally, “What do they have in that restaurant, Daddy? Pizza?” Yes, K, they have pizza there, too.
So, off we went into this new restaurant (one that he had been to previously, but not one that was part of the post-school routine). While we were in the restaurant, he asked me all kinds of questions about his “pizza and a cookie” place. He wanted to know when we could go back. He asked again about what all the men were doing. In short, he was very concerned about his pizza and a cookie (even as he was eating a MUCH better pizza). It was okay that his “usual place” was closed, but only because he was assured that it would open again (whenever).
I’ve joked (sort of) about the “Groundhog Day” existence that comes with parenting. For me (and, I think, many other parents), the daily grind can become monotonous. It can become somewhat hard. The two jobs of parent plus whatever the occupation can be overwhelming. So (again, particularly for me), it’s important to mix it up and find new activities. This is how we found skipping stones. I needed to give myself (and the firefighters) a break!
But, the schedule and repetition are important to the kidlet. He loves his routine. He likes knowing that he’s going to get up in the morning, drink some “leche,” wear a pocket T-shirt and go to school (with just enough of “Fireman Sam” or “Shrek” to allow him to wake up gently). He knows he’s going to have music class on weekends and will probably see one of three friends for some kind a playdate. And, after school, he loves his pizza and a cookie (again, not every day).
So, as he grilled me about his favorite restaurant, I found myself understanding that this routine isn’t MY routine…it’s HIS. And, in that moment, I also found myself wanting the place to reopen soon. I already missed it.
It was closed indefinitely for renovation.
If K-Man were even four years old, I think he could have understood what was going on, but at the tender age of not-quite-three, there was no explaining it. Furthermore, since there were workers in the restaurant, he figured he should be able to go in, as well. (And, given the fact that the workers were wielding power tools that made great big, fun sounds…never mind the food – K-Man just wanted to do some interior damage!)
I’ve heard about kids that constantly ask, “Why” about any and every situation. K-Man’s take on this is, “What’s that man (or woman) doing, Daddy?” Since he couldn’t have his usual pizza and a cookie because of these men in his favorite restaurant, we played A LOT of “What’s that man doing, Daddy?” Since K-Man’s routine was interrupted, I was only too happy to oblige. “Well, he’s using a power saw to rip out the seats.”
“What’s that man doing, Daddy?” Oh, he’s using a sledgehammer to break up the tile floor. “What’s that man doing, Daddy?” That guy? He appears to be a supervisor. So, he’s not really doing anything. This went on for quite some time. Intermittently, I would ask him if he wanted to go to the restaurant next door for some other kind of dinner. Finally, “What do they have in that restaurant, Daddy? Pizza?” Yes, K, they have pizza there, too.
So, off we went into this new restaurant (one that he had been to previously, but not one that was part of the post-school routine). While we were in the restaurant, he asked me all kinds of questions about his “pizza and a cookie” place. He wanted to know when we could go back. He asked again about what all the men were doing. In short, he was very concerned about his pizza and a cookie (even as he was eating a MUCH better pizza). It was okay that his “usual place” was closed, but only because he was assured that it would open again (whenever).
I’ve joked (sort of) about the “Groundhog Day” existence that comes with parenting. For me (and, I think, many other parents), the daily grind can become monotonous. It can become somewhat hard. The two jobs of parent plus whatever the occupation can be overwhelming. So (again, particularly for me), it’s important to mix it up and find new activities. This is how we found skipping stones. I needed to give myself (and the firefighters) a break!
But, the schedule and repetition are important to the kidlet. He loves his routine. He likes knowing that he’s going to get up in the morning, drink some “leche,” wear a pocket T-shirt and go to school (with just enough of “Fireman Sam” or “Shrek” to allow him to wake up gently). He knows he’s going to have music class on weekends and will probably see one of three friends for some kind a playdate. And, after school, he loves his pizza and a cookie (again, not every day).
So, as he grilled me about his favorite restaurant, I found myself understanding that this routine isn’t MY routine…it’s HIS. And, in that moment, I also found myself wanting the place to reopen soon. I already missed it.