Conquering Unpredictabletoddleraphobia

Haden is 2.5 this month. I had this realization a while ago that I was developing an anxiety disorder associated with taking him into public places. Is there a word for this? Unpredictabletoddleraphobia perhaps? Must look up in urban dictionary later.

Anyway, I started thinking about my options recently for this issue. I could try to wait it out until I knew his behavior could be more reliable and he understood the consequences of his misbehavior better. But I honestly have no idea when that will be. It could be years until I would feel comfortable enough to do that. My other option is to try to conquer my fear, and if you know me, I hope you know that that's the kind of person I am (the conquering fears type). So what does conquering that fear look like?

I decided that it would look like little baby steps of "practice" outings with both kids. 

Today was our first practice outing, which was disguised as a coffee date for the littles and I. I told Haden we were going to get a special treat. When we got there, I made him repeat these three things (no idea if he understood them, but I figured at some point he will) 

1. I will be a good listener

2. I will not throw fits 

3. I will stay close to mama

Once he repeated these to me, we were on our way! Starbucks was our destination (I bet you don't have to guess who chose that ;) ). Since it was lunch time, we both had something to eat and we BOTH got coffee (aka warm apple juice in a Starbucks cup for him).

It went so well! We talked the whole time and he listened to everything I said. I had to remind him several times to talk quietly, but that was it! 

Of course I know that not every one of these "practice" outings will go as well! That's why they're called practice :). I figured though that if I continue to work on manners and learning how to obey in public, that would be better than avoiding it altogether. 

Here's to many more coffee dates with the littles! Cheers!

Side note: this post in no way is intended to give the illusion that I know what I'm doing in this whole "parenthood" thing. I don't. Does anybody, really?!