The Twin Challenge

August 17, 2015

Written by Marykate O’Malley, mother of three wonderful children, Gladwyne PA

 

The challenge: 2 active twin boys for 2 plus hours in Cape May, NJ.

Mission: feed, entertain, and deliver to their parents: intact.

 

The SWOT Analysis:

S-Strengths – older cousins as back up and reinforcement: 8 eyes to watch, 8 hands to redirect when needed, 8 arms for hugs

W-Weaknesses – Aunt who is out of practice with preschoolers

O-Opportunity – FUN!

T-Threats – crowded outdoor mall (loosing children), water fountains (they have a joie de vivre), stores with delicate (breakable) items

 

Here is what happened: The gun sounded and we were off. Actually, we all met at a restaurant and my wonderful brother in law asked if I wanted the ipads (which as a rule I don’t have at dinner). I side sized up the situation and noted Twin A grabbing the ketchup bottle and untwisting the cap, and felt Twin B at my feet under the table and gave an enthusiastic “yes, thank you!” So he ran to the car, I moved the ketchup out of the way, my sister chatted with us… And, then… we were off.

The twins were sedated, I mean involved, with their electronic virtual game of trains. The volume was turned as loud as it could go to compete with the noisy restaurant. They ate in a trance like state with their little cherub faces illuminated in a white halo which made their already angelic faces that much more angelic looking. We ate the entire meal this way – they would glance down to move food from plate to mouths and their focus back to the ipads. I felt guilty, knowing I was taking the easy road and also realistic enough to know – I am out of practice with preschoolers. The check arrived. Dinner was over and we exited the restaurant for the Washington Street Mall.

My youngest asked if we could throw coins in the fountain to make wishes. We made our way there and while I fished pennies and nickels out of my purse, counting them to be evenly distributed amongst the 5 children while the twins were putting their darling hands over the spouts, cascading water, and redirecting the flow. Onto themselves. Delighted but saturated we stepped back from the fountain and made our wishes. Twin B squealed and jumped in the air as he tossed a penny, “I want EVERYTHING!” to the delight of people standing around us. The applaud, and smiles acknowledging the exorbitant cuteness of the moment. The other day they entertained another crowd while taking a guided nature walk- each time our guide would ask, “Who has a question” – 2 hands in the front shot up and they would start rolling out the jokes, “What do you call an elephant”… or “What happened to the mommy car when”…. Some people know the truly important questions to ask. Why ask about fiddle crabs when you hear a good one about a helicopter and the empire state building.

Wet, and happy, we make our way to Our Lady Star of the Sea, our respective Grandmother and Great Grandmother’s jewel box of a church, one we went to as children on vacation. We walked into the quiet church. A few couples prayed quietly, others sitting in silent reflection dotted the pews. The twins were respectfully speaking in hushed tones and we stop to light some candles. Suddenly from the silent stillness the piercing sounds of the game from the ipad starts reverberating and echoing throughout the chapel, across the alter, and vestibule and carried up towards the choir loft, and into each confessional. “Way to go!” an electonic voice yelled (on the highest volume) “You just won 3 stars! Keep it up!” Frantically I start digging through my oversized Mary Poppins of a purse cursing myself for keeping tissues, and bandaids, lipstick, snacks, and enough for us to survive on for weeks in my bag. All the while the explosive sounds of an arcade streaming from my bag into the serene Our Lady Star of the Sea.

Finally I extract the ipad from the bag and yes, I don’t know how to turn it off with the Aunt proof protective cover. And now it is now even louder. And moved by some divinely guided grace, I spot a pause button and BAM the church falls silent. I meekly turn around and a mother and her daughter are behind me laughing. Thank God for people who have a sense of humor. By now, almost every candle at the statue of Our Lady and the painting of Our Lady of Guadelupe have been lit – the entire area ablaze in a vibrant light. I leave a donation, and we make our way to leave.

Twin A and B lead the way along with Cousin 1 and 2. Cousin 3 and I pause to take a final glance around and then see ahead of us the twins charging for the fountain. By the time I get to them water is dripping from their faces, off their little upturned noses, and dotting their chestnut brown hair. Their pants are completely saturated, their shirts as well. The group sitting about the fountain seemed just as entertained as the earlier audience. Another day, another show. We take a bow and leave.

 

   

This filled about 20 minutes.

 

My son points to a store, something like the Funniest Store in the World. I look at the display (small, breakable, fragile items) and then look at Twin A and B looking up at me, eagerly, expectantly, pleadingly. And lay sound ground rules – we can go into the store but you need to keep your “hands in your pockets the entire time.” I model. Cousin 1 models and keeps her hands in her pockets the entire time “to be a good role model Mom.” (sigh) And they do. My son holds up a sign, “I need this!” which reads ‘Keep Calm and Eat Bacon.’ We have a bacon thing. We make our way through the store, hands in pockets. I am feeling my parenting toddlers is coming back – and all is going so well we try a few more stores.

 

 

Then we find an escalator. To a book store. And my kids want to go. And how can I say no to that. We all have our weaknesses. And before we step foot in the Atlantic Book Shop we ride the escalator – 6 times. 6 times up, 6 times down. Bookstore follows.

Now we are shopped out. I decide not to introduce sugar into the situation, and we make our way down the mall where we stumbled upon heaven. An old fashioned quartet, in a white gazebo playing Leroy Brown and Starlight. Michael Buble, Ella Fitzgerald, and Frank Sinatra fill the summer air, and we sit while the twins dance under the stars and I think, there couldn’t be a more perfect night.

 

 

My sister and brother in law arrive, wonderful  sister and brother in law, and I look at them in awe and want to bow my head in homage to parents who do this all day, every day. The twins dive into the mini van and flip face first over the seats, again and again, even though it is well past their bedtime, probably because it is well past their bed time. We linger, not wanting to say goodbye. They drive off, we walk back to the concert but it feels too quiet, too calm, lacking the life that moments before was dancing about in the grass with us. And make our way to our car.

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Category: Random and Fun
Tags: cape may, family, family fun, mommy blog, parenting, summer, vacation |