Amarillo, Parenting is Hard So You Can Cut Yourself Some Slack

We already know that you don't really have to pass a test to become a parent. We also know that parenting is tough. It's rewarding, of course, but it is tough. Things don't always go as plan. Life has it's little hiccups and you learn from them.

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So parents cut yourself some slack when things happen out of your control. You learn the most from this and trust me your kids probably don't even know you messed up. I was in Dallas over the weekend. It was a fast and furious trip.

The plans were to be on the road at 2pm so I could be in town and drive as little as possible in the dark. I had my mom and her boyfriend in town from Phoenix. Though it was a fast trip we wanted to spend as much time together as possible.

So Where Did the Parenting Lesson Begin on This Trip?

We decided to go out to lunch before I got on the road. My mom had to be at the airport later in the afternoon. As we finished up eating. Part of us stayed back and the ones with kids rushed ahead to get them in the car.

As the kids were put in the back seat in the car seats. One of the adults went up front and somehow threw the keys in the front seat. Somehow the lock button was pushed on the key fob. Before anyone knew it the door was shut.

Meaning that all the doors were locked with the keys inside with the kids. Of course the moms panicked. We had AAA so we got on the phone. Luckily it was cool out so it wasn't an emergency. I mean it was to us and all. The kids were fine though. In fact asleep. So they didn't even know the parents were freaking.

An employee from the restaurant came out with a wire hanger trying to get into the car. It was not successful.

One mom thought it was taking too long to get someone there. So she called 911 in tears. We also got back on the phone with AAA to get an estimated time. Again the moms were stressing so it was a valid question.

That was all that it took. In less than five minutes we had everyone there. The thing that was great is that other parents, as they left the restaurant, came up to our car to console the moms. One lady said:

I did this exact thing twenty three years ago. It can happen to anyone. Don't let this bother you. The kids will be alright.

First a wrecker service who either heard the call on the emergency scanner, or heard it from AAA, showed up. He said he heard the call and thought he could be here faster than anyone because he was across the street. He was the one to get the car unlocked. The moms were so relieved and so appreciative.

Then the Euless Fire Department got there. We let them know the car was unlocked. They apologized and said they just left a fire. Trust us, we got it. Then the Euless Police Department got there. Everyone was so friendly. Next the actual AAA Wrecker got there. We were so appreciative of everyone.

The best part again is the kids never knew anything was going on. That is how it is to be a parent. You worry most of the time that you are messing your kids up. You know what, you are doing a great job and the kids most the time will never remember the moments that stressed you out the most.

Oh and so needless to say me getting on the road at 2pm didn't happen. It was closer to 4:30pm after all this happened. So I headed back to Amarillo and my mom and her boyfriend headed to the airport all with a great story to tell.