As promised I would detail the reasons for saying that taking Diz to the Balloon Festival was a disaster.
Sunday morning Jeff and his crew returned to the lake. Diz and I headed for the Tigard Balloon Festival...too late to see the mass ascension. But not to be daunted I thought I would take him around to the booths, and see the other things including the rides.
We stopped at the first thing that was open the hook and ladder truck for Tualatin Valley Fire. They let him in the rig, he got a hat and sticker. So far so good, but nothing was open yet. so, I suggested that rather than put the sticker on his shirt where he had an applique that would likely come off with the sticker when it was removed. Apparently, and I still don't know to this day, he didn't like the idea of the sticker on the hat. So he sulked...for 45 min! I left him there to sulk as he is entitled to be sad like everyone else.
After 30 minutes of sulking I brought him over to where I was sitting at a picnic table. I tired of standing and it was beginning to get crowded so I couldn't see him every second. SO I picked him up and he continued his sulk for a couple of minutes. Then he did something (I can't recall now) unacceptable, so I stopped the behavior. I remember it was something minor like pick at the gum underneath the picnic table etc. Anyway that ticked him off more and he started to cry which quickly escalated to a tantrum. I had no intention of giving into this, pleading with him or bargaining with him, so he continued his tantrum as passers by looked on at his carrying on and my evident boredom and unwillingness to give in. This continued for some time until he then escalated it further in to a rage. I let it go on for a couple of minutes thinking it would soon fizzle out. I knew he was tired from the night before as he had not slept well at all and awoke extra early! NOPE, no such luck. A police officer assigned to the festival came over and asked if he were ok. I said "Yes, he is just having a fit." Once it was clear that he was in no mood to drop this rage I picked him up and carried him out of the festival. A nice man brought us back up the hill to the open field. He said "I understand. I have two kids of my own." I said nothing, but thanked him. I plopped Diz down in the open field where nobody would have to listen to him and figured without an audience he would soon be finished. HA!
He finally took a break and said he was finished. So we proceeded to my car. On the way he said "I am done, I want to go back now." to which I responded "No, we are NOT going back, you lost your chance." So he took off where he left off...raging. Then I needed to go in to the store, so I pulled in to a parking lot but did not get out...he continued. I did feel sorry for him when his rage disappeared and it dissolved in to tears. He tearfully pleaded through sobs "I can't stop". I brought him up front and tried to decipher the reason for the rage and help to calm him so he could stop crying. He fell asleep...in the front seat...exhausted...two hours AFTER his initial sulk. No way was I going to wake him. He NEEDED sleep. I thought he would not sleep more than 30 minutes.
2 hours and 20 minutes later he awoke as the police officer pulled up to my car and got out. It went something like this:
P "Good afternoon Ma'am."
T "Good afternoon officer."
P "Would you mind telling me what is going on here."
T "Sure he chucked a wobbly and fell asleep."
P "Chucked a wobbly? What does that mean?"
T "Oh right, it means threw a fit, a temper tantrum. (His Dad uses this term and I try to stay consistent with their vernacular) He then fell asleep in the front seat. I don't live far from here, but I didn't want to wake him and he obviously needs his car seat, so I decided to let him sleep."
P "How long have you been here?"
T "2 hours and 20 minutes!"
P "Where is your husband?"
T "My husband? I beg your pardon." (I was at this point sat in the back because the sun was shining through the drivers side window roasting me)
P "Well, your partner, boyfriend, whatever."
T "Oh, I drove, but hopped in back when the sun started shining through my window." (It was 85+ degrees)
P "Is this your car?"
T "yes"
P "Do you have your license and registration?'
T "yes"
P "Well a few people have called because you have been out here for so long. Does he have water?" I thought 'Yes HE does, but I am out, and parched I might add. Further more I need to use the restroom and have needed to for the past 4 mind numbing hours!'
T I replied with a simple "yes"
The whole time I was thinking PUH-LEASE do NOT ask him if I am his Mommy. I would hate to have to explain that to officer friendly. I could just see me calling Rissy from jail. Yes, could you come and get your kid. I have to explain why I had a child, who was not my own, in my front seat, in a parking lot for 2.5 hours!
Diz was positively delightful before and after the fit. I was worn out!
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