Sometimes I forget how upsetting changes in routine can be, especially for one of our boys. It makes things like going out to dinner or even over to someone's house a challenge, because it's not typical. Sometimes it works out okay, other times not so much.
Tonight was Grammy's birthday, and we had planned for a while to pick up some food and take it over to their house for a simple dinner. Us planning and the kids actually understanding are two very different things. Connor knows and understands, even if he does get dates and times confused. He's more likely to drive you crazy with asking about "when" we're going to go than to not understand you. Explaining it to the twins is another story all together. Perhaps they know and understand what we're saying. Perhaps they don't. It's hard to tell since they're not talking. I'm pretty sure they understand the concept of "going to Grammy's house," but as far as being prepared for that event happening in the near future, well that's anyone's guess.
And judging by tonight's response, Sawyer was not in on tonight's game plan. He was tired, which was problem number one. He avoids nap time like the plague, even when he's exhausted after nights of sleeplessness. But put him in the car seat and start moving, and he will fall asleep, almost instantaneously. So, he of course fell asleep not long into our drive and was quite pissed to wake up at Grammy's house (he would have been pissed to be anywhere but his house, if you're wondering). Begin the clutching on to Mommy for dear life, the screaming and the tears. And nothing, not even french fries or chicken nuggets or suckers or apple juice or toys, would stop it. The only thing that stopped it was clutching on to Mommy and being rocked or taken into a quiet room (where Mommy had to stay in sight, because he was absolutely not being left there by himself - probably his biggest fear). This was, after all, a potential babysitter's house, and he knew it.
As Pappy joked, it's one of the reasons Mommy stays so skinny. I had my meal long after everyone else had finished, and even then was busy spoon-feeding the twins their applesauce between every bite I tried to take. Oh, and Sawyer stood beside me and whimpered the entire time, too, clutching on to one of my hands and trying to drag me away from the table (or to the back door to leave, which he does often in places he's decided he doesn't want to be).
Changes in routine, unexpected people and places (especially ones where he's been left before by Mommy), are not good things. He wasn't happy until several hours after we arrived, when he finally started playing with the toy blocks and wandering around. It took him that long to realize that Mommy wasn't leaving him there, that we were just there for a little visit. And even then, he was still first in line when we mentioned going home.
And you should have seen the smile on his face as he climbed into his own bed . . . back home, to the familiar and the comfortable. Tonight, he's actually sleeping instead of playing with light switches and dancing around his room , at least for now . . .
