Worst-parent Moment

Date: Monday, August 8, 2011

Place: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

Setting: Boat Ride

It was the end of a fun day at the boardwalk--Hunter's first time there--and I saw the boat ride. It's basically a giant boat that swings back and forth, gradually getting higher and higher. So far Hunter was sticking to the safer, kiddie-type rides and I thought he should push himself a little more. Why not? I thought.

With much coaxing, we stepped into line and, to my relief, parents with a four-year-old-looking boy was ahead of us. Great! This younger kid will show Hunter he has nothing to be afraid of. But that didn't seem to help. The entire time in line he was protesting and saying, "I'm afraid." Well, I truly believed he would love the ride once it started, and that he really didn't know why he was afraid.

Then, as I pushed him onto the ride and strapped him in, it all fell apart...

For one brief moment, a small look of relief passed across his face. Then the girls behind him began to scream in delight and the relief vanished. Terror took over on Hunter's face and he began to shake and cry. I tried whispering into his ear the whole time, to get him to calm down and to realize it would all be okay. That completely FAILED. He continued to shake and cry and tell me I was WRONG.

I felt like the worst parent ever.

I had to carry him off after it was over and let him cry in my arms for a good 5-10 minutes. Through his sobs he continually reminded me how I was wrong and that I didn't listen to him.

I was able to distract him after that. But, throughout the rest of the day (and night, and next day...) he kept reminding me of how wrong I was for making him go on that ride. I continued to apologize for it and told him I wouldn't make him go on a scary ride ever again. I'm leaving it to someone else to overcome that fear (now that it's burned in his memory!).

WORST FEELING EVER!!