Finding Ninee » Sharing our parenting and special needs stories with heart and humor.

How I Ended Up Being Thankful For October and Made My Kid Pose With The Scariest Cat of All Time

As seasons and the whole time moving forward thing tend to do, this Fall came without my permission. At the end of the summer, I longed to freeze the days before kindergarten, and found myself grieving moments of my little boy’s barely-five-year-old self while he was still being his barely-five-year-old self.

I was anxious about him attending a new big-kid school and nervous about whether he’d find the courage and confidence to speak up and reach out and do all of the things that can be hard for all of us, but are often even harder for him.

Not that I’ll ever not worry about him, but mostly I realized that wanting time to go more slowly doesn’t make it so, and that the only solution is to find magic and connection in the rightnow. And mostly, I did that. Mostly, I’ve been doing that.

Then, a couple of weeks ago, I realized that October is already almost over and I started to think the things that make the too-quickly passing time pass too slowly. Things like “I hate it when it’s dark outside by 6:00 pm,” and “How am I ever going to get all of the things I need to do done?” and other crappy thoughts like “I’m not ready to pull out my too-tight jeans and sweaters and I am not buying new clothes just because I lack willpower and weight loss,” and “I suck for lacking willpower and weight loss.”

I remembered how I felt at the end of this summer and reminded myself that for all of the lost days already behind us, that there are very likely billions of magical smiles ahead of us and with us rightnow righthere today. So, I’ve been focusing on remembering how much fun crowded sticky loud pumpkin festivals and Halloween fairs and celebrations are.

And this, you guys, is my thankful.

How I ended up being thankful for October and other scary stuff

I chaperoned Tucker’s kindergarten field trip to a big pumpkin farm, complete with fresh apples, an awesome hayride, and hay bale tunnels to climb in and towers to jump from.

Having October Fun in Haybales

Instead of letting the “How am I ever going to get all of the things I need to do done?” rule my schedule, I told myself that walking to the local fire station* with a classroom of kindergartners is way more important than all of the other things because it’s a first and a last and someday, Tucker won’t be thrilled to hold my hand in front of his classmates.

Fire Station Kindergarten Class

And mostly, I’ve remembered to be thankful. Because even though Tucker’s sick, he’s not so sick that he has a fever or that we can’t do things and he’s definitely not the kind of sick that requires a carpet steamer, towels, or hastily grabbed buckets in the middle of the night. He’s not so sick that we had to miss Air and Scare (because airplanes and spooky stuff in the same spot!).

I even managed to not get totally bummed out when Tucker avoided the larger-than-life-sized Stormtroopers (HI TWIN DADDY SCOTT!!) and Darth Vader. At home, he loves these guys. They are key players in every spaceship and airplane game and the treasured Lego bad guys for Batman and Spiderman to teach to be gentle and to be kind. I knew he’d love to see a photo of himself posing with these guys, but it wasn’t happening as obviously they are more terrifying at 6’5” tall than their Lego versions are.

He was awesome in other stuff. Stuff I thought he wouldn’t like because it requires interaction with an adult and science talk and pushy, loud, bump-into-you kids. Stuff like seeing what happens to a marshmallow without a spacesuit in the vacuum that is outer space. Stuff like seeing liquid boil in that vacuum but still feeling cool to the touch.

He even managed to not throw a fit when we told him that the lines to ride the simulators were too long. And ya know what? As we were getting ready to leave at closing time, and the crowds were thinning out, we saw a Stormtrooper, all alone. And Tucker decided he wanted a photo with him after all. I’d say he totally rocked his badass tough-looking self next to this guy.

 Stormtrooper and my five year old badass

Maybe, next year, we’ll even get to touch Darth Vader’s light saber. Or not. And that’s okay, too. Because really, as I keep reminding myself, and will continue to do over and over and over forever if I need to, all of the things are okay. All of the days that are both sucky and full of magic, sometimes all at once, are ours, and there are more and more and more of them to come.

So thankful, you guys. So thankful.

Plus, this photo:

Scariest cat of all time


* Side note to parents out there: one thing that I thought was REALLY cool and had never considered talking to my son about is this. A fireman got all dressed in his gear in front of the kids, which they loved. Then, another fireman went on to explain that even though Fireman Mike (the dressed up guy) looked and sounded scary (like Darth Vader with his 02 mask on) that if they were ever scared at home, and they saw a scary looking guy like that come in and maybe even be crawling on his knees, to remember that he’s a fireman under all of the gear and that he was there to help. He said “please don’t hide from us even though you’ll want to. Please yell out “I’m over here! if you can.”). Awesome. 

This is a Ten Things of Thankful post. And you know what else I’m thankful for? Do you guys know my awesome friend Zoe?If you don’t know who she is, well she’s amazing and wrote this Our Land post… after writing this one... So I won this amazingly beautiful book from her site recently. Handmade paper. Handmade love. I don’t think I could ask for more.

zoe book

 

Ten Things of Thankful

Your hosts: A Fly on our (Chicken Coop) Wall, Amycake and the Dude, Considerings, Finding Ninee, Getting Literal, I Want Backsies, Mother of Imperfection, Rewritten, Thankful Me, The Wakefield Doctrine

Join the Ten Things of Thankful Facebook Group


by Kristi Campbell

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  • zoe - HOLY SHIT! WHAT IS THAT THING!? ( NO, I mean the long eared thing… just kidding…. what the eff is that?) Tucker looks very reasonably reticent in that photo! Showing good judgement once again…more than I can say for mommy pushing him to pose with that freaky thing! ahahhahaa…. hey cool about the fireman and way cool that he is afraid of villains in life size form… what’s wrong with that? Smart kid!October 26, 2014 – 9:10 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - HAHAH Zoe!! It’s the freakiest looking cat of all time!!! Seriously! Although when I was laughing like a loon, and my husband asked me why, I showed him the photo (because Tucker’s face!!!) and he was like “um, that’s not a cat.” DUH!! That’s what makes it FUNNY!!! Also shit. I meant to include my awesome new book in this post. FUCK. Am going to update now. I’m SUCH a moron.October 26, 2014 – 10:21 pmReplyCancel

      • zoe - So …no moron cuz im reading your reply thinking…. “she has a new book?!”October 26, 2014 – 11:45 pmReplyCancel

        • Kristi Campbell - HAHAH awesome. And yes, yes I do. A most beautiful treasured one by my lovely awesome friend.October 26, 2014 – 11:57 pmReplyCancel

  • Janine Huldie - I totally chaperoned the Halloween Party at Emma’s school on Friday night and am finally getting to volunteer for the class pumpkin picking/hayride trip tomorrow, as it got rained out last Thursday here. So, excited and seeing your pics only made it that much more real for me, too. And by the way, Emma held my hand going from game station to game station at the party Friday night and like you know a time will come when this too shall pass, but also like you enjoying it all while I can right now. And saying some extra prayers tonight that Tucker is feeling better tomorrow now again.October 26, 2014 – 9:47 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Janine,
      I’m so glad to read that you chaperoned the Halloween Party for Emma’s class too! I so get the hand holding. It’s like we miss it already, even though we have it, because we also know it’s going to go away at some point… sigh. Thanks so much too for the prayers – so far, we’re not all the way there yet but I know it’ll be soon!October 27, 2014 – 8:45 pmReplyCancel

  • Dyanne @ I Want Backsies - These are all Good Things! Yes, there’s stuff that you need to do, but he’ll only go to the fire station ONE TIME as a kindergartener, and before you know it, he’ll think stormtroopers are babyish (by the way, love the way he keeps a little distance between himself and the stormtrooper in the picture). And that’s why we spend a gazillion dollars on gas and drive to all my daughter’s volleyball games, even when they’re three hours away, because the window of opportunity for this kind of stuff is only open for a short amount of time, and then it slides closed. My baseboards can wait until then. So can my basement and the hall closet.

    I love how the firefighters show the kids how they look in their regular uniform, then let the kids watch them put on all the gear. They dressed me up two years in a row when they visited preschool. It really is good for the kids to see them and HEAR them, because that Darth Vader sound is CREEPY!October 26, 2014 – 10:24 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - I think they’re all Good Things, too Dyanne! And yes! Only ONE TIME for all of the things that we’ll so miss. Also I remember when my parents didn’t encourage me to do some of the stuff and I stewed on it for years, so it goes both ways, I think.
      I really liked how the firefighters handled it as well and was really thankful that they said that to the kids because it’s not something I’d EVER have thought of!! How scary a fireman is if you’re hiding under your bed???
      Darth Vader sound? Still creeps me out!October 27, 2014 – 8:47 pmReplyCancel

  • Vanessa D. - I’m not sure I would stand next to that thing for a picture. What is it and does it have fleas? It really looks like it would have fleas. When my guys were little, I used to always dread summer vacation and it was always over so fast I think I spent more time dreading it than living it. I’m not looking forward to the short cold days of winter either, but I am looking forward to those magic days when each one is noticeably longer that come after.October 26, 2014 – 10:25 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Vanessa,
      Yeah, I’m not sure I would either. Tucker was being a good sport though, and it was this disgusting puppet thing that probably DID have fleas!!! I hear you about the magic longer days, too. Sigh.October 27, 2014 – 8:48 pmReplyCancel

  • clark - (to paraphrase an old joke)…. “I was talking to the the Bill the Cat look-a-like, not you, doofus”*

    Actually, now that I think of it, I loved Bill the Cat (from the no-longer running Bloom County) (which is/was my second favorite comic strip) after Calvin and Hobbes, of course.

    Funny how parent often miss the things that kids find scary (along with the things that a kid finds funny)…. I remain half-traumatized by a movie my parents made me see (“It’s a Disney movie! They understand children!”) ‘Darby O’Gill and the Little People’ (it had this banshee scene that had me awake for 6 weeks…. thanks parental-units!)

    lol….
    oh and btw? most of us 5 to 15 (or 47) year old people from Y Chromeville…. like the fireman duds ’cause we’re thinking how cool it would be to run around scaring everyone with the face mask and gloves and shit….

    that zoe….

    *I trust that isn’t your friend or anythingOctober 27, 2014 – 7:51 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - HAHAH I loved Bill the Cat too!! My best friend and roommate for YEARS (and the subject when I talk about the walk of shame, etc) had forever a dog named Zonker – from that comic!!
      I totally didn’t miss it as far as the scary BUT that dude had tapped me on the shoulder with that creepy puppet like four times and finally I decided it’d be a funny photo but yeah. Tucker was pissed or annoyed and his face in the pic is AWESOME to say the least.
      Firemen are hot. Usually. Sometimes. More often in our minds than in reality but still, they like carry our fat asses out of burning buildings and shit so that’s got a good A in my book.

      hahah um, yeah, that zoe.October 27, 2014 – 8:51 pmReplyCancel

  • Sandy Ramsey - I so feel all of these feels. October is gone. I’m looking at my kids and realizing how much bigger they are and how fast they are changing and I want time to slow down. But it’s probably my mind that needs to slow down, and my body, to take time to enjoy these fast fleeting moments. You did good, Mama! Wonderful, wonderful things in here.

    I will say that that thing you made your boy stand next to (cat??? really????) is pretty frightening and I would probably have had the same reaction as Tucker!October 27, 2014 – 8:53 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Sandy.
      Weep. I’m feeling really sad about October almost being gone as well although I LOVE LOVE LOVE trick-or-treating with Tucker so there’s that still. And candy. But yeah. HAHAH to the cat. I just said cat because the whole day I thought it was a dog in costume and it turned out to be a puppet and cat seemed so much funnier than dog ya know? Because cats are usually not scary. I love his face in that photo though!October 27, 2014 – 8:53 pmReplyCancel

  • Kenya G. Johnson - Ewwww please tell me that cat thing is fake. I am so glad I didn’t look at this post in the middle of the night – which I tend to do sometimes. Whew!

    Aside from that freak of a cat, I loved this post. Tucker did Rock his pose with the Storm Trooper.

    As for the season – this is the best one. Tuck the muffin top into jeans that come above your belly button and wear a sweater – no one is the wiser about the mom jeans underneath.October 27, 2014 – 9:07 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Kenya, it was totally fake. It was like some puppet-thing but it took me seeing it like four times to realize that it wasn’t a dog wearing a mask because it looked REAL. I thought it was funny to call it a cat because dogs can be scary in real life but not so much cats… and Tucker’s been asking for a cat (which ain’t happening as mama is allergic).
      I need new mama jeans, I think!!!October 27, 2014 – 8:54 pmReplyCancel

      • Kenya G. Johnson - Aaaah you got me. I am not looking at the picture again to determine whether or not it looks fake but you totally sold me on it being the scariest or freakiest cat ever. LOL!!!!October 27, 2014 – 9:11 pmReplyCancel

        • Kristi Campbell - Sorry so much! I really was just trying to be funny because in the daylight – while that thing was scary – it was also whatever, ya know?October 28, 2014 – 12:17 amReplyCancel

  • Dana - I feel like October has flown by, and we haven’t done any fall-ish things yet! Well, there was Homecoming this past weekend, and Ravens games, but we really need to get to a farm. This weekend, I hope.

    Storm troopers and freaky looking “cats” and firemen are all awesome things to be thankful for. But mostly the look on Tucker’s face next to that cat thing – I may just glance at that many times today. Priceless!October 27, 2014 – 10:29 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - October and THIS YEAR have flown by! I feel like it was just a couple of months ago that I was whining about having 11 snow days, and now, it’s past summer and almost past fall. Sigh. Let me know what farm you go to and if it’s 1/2-way between here and there!! I know our kids have different interests but everybody loves apple picking right?
      And yeah, I love that photo of Tucker and the cat thing too 🙂October 27, 2014 – 8:56 pmReplyCancel

  • Michelle - I love the pictures…although that last one looks like something that would want to eat your soul.October 27, 2014 – 10:51 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - I think so too Michelle!! Poor kid who is mine beloved for real, I promise. It was a good photo op though right?October 27, 2014 – 8:57 pmReplyCancel

  • Kristi - I remember visiting a fire station when my kids were little, and being thankful for that same “Don’t hide from us” speech. It was something I had never thought about, either. It must be a common problem, though.October 27, 2014 – 11:04 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Kristi – Seriously I’d never thought of that either and was so so appreciative that they said something. Not only did they say something, but now I know what to say!October 27, 2014 – 8:58 pmReplyCancel

  • Lisa @ The Meaning of Me - There are so many things I read here that I nodded and “uh-huh-ed” about as I went through your list. I’ll never not worry. I hate when it gets dark early. I am not looking forward to squeezing into my winter clothes that I was really hoping would be too big on me this year…so much. I get it.
    I love that the fireman told those kids not to be afraid if they ever saw them…you don’t think about things like that! Good info!
    It is so easy to get lost in the “wow, I wasted all that time on…” instead of remembering why those things were important in that moment. Life’s too short to live with regret so I try to avoid that. It’s why I love the TToT, I think, because it keeps the focus on the good, not the perceived bad.October 27, 2014 – 12:25 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - OMG we’ll never not worry? I guess that’s true. I worry about how little I worried before I was a mom though, ya know? I mean, really, I was too reckless.
      I hate the not having winter clothes feel LOOSE like they were supposed to by now! UGH. I really thought.
      I have a tattoo on my ankle from um (OMG I AM OLD) 24 years ago that says “DIE WITH NO REGRETS.” I wish I knew what I was talking about then but now, I’m glad I had an idea… and yeah, focus on the good.October 27, 2014 – 10:57 pmReplyCancel

  • Chronicallysickmanicmother - I love that the fireman took the time to let them know they may look scary but not to hide.

    I always find it so hilarious when something they are obsesssed with at home and you think they will love in person….not so much. Cracks me up everytime!

    Also… Yes that is the scarriest looking animal ever.October 27, 2014 – 12:35 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - I agree that the fireman telling them that they need to call out rather than being scared is HUGE because who would have thought!!! And haha to the stuff we think they’ll love. I guess we’re still figuring it out.October 27, 2014 – 11:06 pmReplyCancel

  • Priya - These are cool things to do! And that cat really is scary. 🙂October 27, 2014 – 2:19 pmReplyCancel

  • Lisa @ Golden Spoons - This fall has gone by so, so quickly! Even my daughter said today, “It’s already October 27?!?” I need to remember, too, to look forward to what’s ahead and not just be sad over what’s behind (although I am having an exceptionally hard time with that today because of stuff I cannot/will not say in a public comment.) 🙁 Anyway, I’m glad you had a great October and I don’t blame Tucker one bit for the look he is giving you in the picture beside the creepy rabbit cat-thing holder guy! XOXOOctober 27, 2014 – 7:26 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Oh Lisa!!
      I guess we all need to remember what’s ahead and not behind… which is so damn HARD. (I almost used the f word so um well)
      I’m so sorry about the stuff you can’t say in a public comment (will DM) and well, we mostly had a good October but it has been full of me being SAD because OMG where does this time GO GO GO ???October 27, 2014 – 11:11 pmReplyCancel

  • Camille - My daughter was the same way when we went to Disney. She loves Mickey Mouse and all the princesses usually, but refused to even look at them when she got the chance to meet them in person! Now I try to prep her beforehand whenever we go somewhere. We talk about what it will be like a lot, that helps I think. 🙂October 28, 2014 – 9:19 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Camille, I guess I should have spoken to him a lot more about what we’d see before we went. He was scared of these guys that he falls asleep holding in his hands!!October 28, 2014 – 7:58 pmReplyCancel

  • My Inner Chick - I WANT those days back! I want to go on the field trips, help out in class, peek thru the windows when he doesn’t see me. I want……

    Savor. Love. Appreciate. The NOW.

    Btw, I despise the days getting darker. I am leaving for work in the BLACKness of the morning.

    xxxxxxxxxx Kiss from MN.

    PS. LOve the photos!!!!!!!October 28, 2014 – 12:16 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Thanks for the reminder, Kim. There are days when I’m like “I can’t!” but mostly, I’ve been saying “YES I CAN” and rearranging my schedule because I already miss them and they’re not even yet gone.. kisses back, you.October 28, 2014 – 7:59 pmReplyCancel

  • Kerri - Every time David does fire prevention he gives the kids (and parents) a comment along those lines of we look and sound scary but I promise we are not. He then gets into his gear in front of them so they kids get it.

    I am so freaking glad you had a positive field trip and not mine of nightmares. I think it is so cool that you find these little miracles when others might focus on what went wrong instead.

    Cause A LOT could go wrong on a field trip with 5YOs.October 28, 2014 – 12:59 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - I think that’s awesome that David gives the kids and parents about not being afraid when they come in with all of their gear. It honestly never occurred to me that if this place were full of smoke, that Tucker would be hiding and NOT telling a scary looking darth vader dude where he was! I still don’t know that he would, but I was glad the guy said that.
      And yeah, some stuff went wrong. But mostly? It went right.October 28, 2014 – 8:01 pmReplyCancel

  • Susan Zutautas - I love to see Tucker having so much fun!October 28, 2014 – 6:08 pmReplyCancel

  • Emily - Well, that last photo made me laugh a lot, mostly because Tucker’s expression is awesome! And the other photos made me all nostalgic and sentimental about field trips because this is my last year of chaperoning any field trips…I’m not sure if that makes me happy or sad, probably because the last field trip for the 5th graders this year involves a parent chaperoning them to Philadelphia..it’s a long-ass day – arriving at the school at 5:30am – riding the bus to Phillie, touring with the kids all day, and then riding the bus back to NY. I’m exhausted just thinking about it, and may have to draw straws with my husband to see who goes on that trip. 🙂October 28, 2014 – 9:29 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - HAHA Emily! I know! That last photo of Tucker is simply awesome and really, if I’d noticed his face before snapping the 2 second photo, because that’s how long they last, I’d never have even made him pose! But I asked if he wanted to and he said yes or close enough, and well!
      Ugh to the field trip thing. I’ve taken the day off on Friday because it’s the kindergarten parade at school with a 2 hour early release and part of me is like OMG I don’t have time for this and part of me is like um yeah, I have to…October 29, 2014 – 11:18 pmReplyCancel

  • Elizabeth - The photo with the scary cat is priceless – his expression! So funny. And the advice from the fire fighters is really terrific. I don’t know if my son ever heard that advice – I will ask him.October 29, 2014 – 2:53 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - I know! I love the photo and the advice from the fire fighters!! I’d NEVER have thought of that in a billion years and I’m not sure it would be remembered by my son but for sure I’m going to talk to him about it!!October 29, 2014 – 11:19 pmReplyCancel

  • Allie - Kristi, I am dreading the “how am I going to get everything done?” day – but fear they are already upon ,me. I am drowning in to-dos, and I am supposed to be changing my outlook and “skinny dipping!” Tuckers face with the scary cat? Priceless.October 29, 2014 – 9:47 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - HAHAH Allie, to Tucker’s face!! And yeah, who told you to skinny dip? It’s awesome but not always the best way. Sometimes, we need clothes and stuff to cover our ugly hairies. Other times though, strip it down, sistah. Ugh to the getting everything done. We just can’t. We have to pick and choose.October 29, 2014 – 11:40 pmReplyCancel

  • Brittnei - This is so cute! Everyone with their hayride and farm adventures is making me so excited to take JR one day. I found one near us and though we won’t be able to go until probably December, I’m hoping that he will love it! Too funny the pick of Tucker with his scrunchy face and your caption about making him take that photo! 🙂October 30, 2014 – 3:08 amReplyCancel

  • Chris Carter - I love how you live with full intention Kristi!! I love every bit of this post!!! Oh wait- NOT that creepy monstrous creature that man is holding though…

    I swear I have stared at it several times (Been here too many times and didn’t get the chance to comment!!!) and I just can’t wrap my mind or eyes around that thing.

    Oh. My. WORD!!!October 30, 2014 – 11:29 amReplyCancel

  • Sarah @Thank You Honey - Tuckers faces says it all! What an exciting month without Halloween! Cute post!October 30, 2014 – 6:35 pmReplyCancel

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