Parenting Emergency
Let’s talk about parenting emergencies. I don’t mean those harrowing experiences where true emergencies infiltrate the parenting realm. I’m talking about the little things that, while nothing compared to true emergencies, are the figurative end of the world for parents.
When you promise dessert to more than one kid and then find out you only have one cookie left. I’ve been through this or similar situations before and know the appropriate action to take: call the National Guard. Because unless you have a pack of Oreos behind a “break in the event of an emergency” glass case, the only way to re-established order is by instituting martial law.
When you are away from home and don’t have a pacifier. Unless your kid doesn’t use a pacifier, few things make you feel more helpless than being away from home at nap or bedtime and having no pacifier. One such parenting emergency happened not long ago, and after searching at multiple convenience stores I finally found one that carried pacifiers. Note to convenience stores near Dripping Springs: 1) you should all sell pacifiers and 2) you could charge pretty much anything for them and your desperate and cornered market will pay it.
When you’re away from home and run out of diapers. This has happened to us more times than I thought it would given the brood of children in diapers that follow my wife like lost puppies. Typically, we have a diaper of some size in the diaper bag and can make do. But when that’s not the case, especially if it involves a newborn, quick and decisive action needs to take place.
When bathroom stuff happens. Because I’m classy, I won’t go into detail here. Just know, code brown is a real thing and the stuff of nightmares in my book of parenting emergencies. Also, bathroom stuff doesn’t always take place in the bathroom. That is all.
When you hear thunder on your way out the door to the pool. Not only are your plans for entertaining the kids shot, but you're now trapped inside with a pack of amped up kids who smell like sunscreen and pent-up mischief.
When a play date or party is cancelled after the kids know about it. The kids disappointment here is similar to the aforementioned pool rain out. However, the incomprehensibility of a day of playing with a friend just being cancelled isn’t something easily forgotten. Or let go of. Ever. “But why can’t we go to the party?” will often be the refrain for the rest of the day. Or the rest of the week. Which, in the world of parenting emergencies, is equivalent to a four alarm fire. You’re going to need some backup.