For any mom with more than one kid, I am sure you can relate to Caged Animal Syndrom.
I experience this quite often with my kids, sometimes even the teenager. My once well behaved children quite often turn into wild animals when out in public.
They are great at the park, the zoo, out for walks or anything that is free roaming...get the picture?
But take them to place where they need to be well behaved, quiet, hold hands or sit still and they turn into wild animals! Like they have just been released from their cages for the first time!
My kids are adorable. They are funny, smart and entertaining... but don't let them fool you!
Last night was no exception. The kids have all had coughs and finally it my teenager. We headed to the walkin clinic and the circus began!
The 4 year old decides to run wild through the waiting room giggling uncontrollably. The 18 month old is jumping around and bouncing, literally, off funiture, laughing hysterically. The oldest pretends she doesn't know us as she sits on her phone texting friends... probably telling them she is at the zoo.
I try to remain calm, I try to reason with them. "You need to sit still and be quiet, there are other people here that are sick and waiting for the doctor." They sit, for 14 seconds, before the giggling starts and the kicking feet begin, and then the jumping and running is back in full force.
SO agian, for the sake of looking normal, you try to remain calm and wrangle them in with a stern face and a firm "Now sit here and don't move."
You know people are staring. Some are laughing, I mean the kids are cute and acting wild, and some are just pretending we are not there.
It's getting hot, I am out of snacks, I know they aren't listening to me and I am trying to to either burst out laughing, cry or scream.
Finally, they call my daughters name. Oh great relief we can get out of the waiting room and into a space where people can't see us!
Oh but my relief is short lived. The tiny little exam room reminds the animals that they are still free...this is where I begin to pray. Pray for patience for me and for the lives of my children.
One starts to sing old macdonald at the top of her lungs. one tries to climb on the chair with wheels unsuccessfully, which makes him wail and push the chair into the wall. It's getting hot again, I am not sure if I should laugh or cry. I look at my oldest and we both start to laugh. Which makes the one sign louder as she plays drums on the wall with tongue depressors and the other cry louder becuase we are laughing and not helping him.
The poor doctor finally arrives, I apologize for the circus, she checks my daughter out, writes a scrit and I swear, she runs out of the room.
