Where a Kid Can Be a Kid
Posted June 14 2010 by Crystal in Daily Life - 19 Comments
Saturday afternoon, J suggested the bright idea of taking the kids to Chuck E. Cheese, a place we usually try to avoid as much as possible. Except this time, I said sure, sounds fun. Sounds fun? Clearly, neither of us were in our right minds.
I came home with a few alternate takes on their “where a kid can be a kid” slogan:
- Where a mom can lose a kid, and her last nerve.
- Where your 4yo can score higher than you at skeeball.
- Where a kid can be truly indecisive.
- Where a kid can be terrified of a pigtailed robotic chicken.
- Where it’s impossible to look cool drinking from a cup shaped like a crown.
- Where you eat your already non-appetizing pizza while staring at a giant mouse.
- Where you wish you brought hand sanitizer.
- Where you realize how cute your own kids are compared to everybody else’s.
- Where they play music from KidzBop. Need I say more?
- Where random kids will follow you around, begging for tokens.
- Where your entire self-worth is based on how many tickets you can accumulate.
- Where a kid can be a kid, but the parents feel really, really old.
- Where a kid might, possibly, pee his pants.
- Where a kid can be a screaming wild animal let loose out of it’s cage.
- Where it might be a good idea to keep a kid on a leash.
- Where they should really serve alcohol.
- Where a kid can spend 4 hours playing and racking up tickets to win some foam rocket piece of crap that was destroyed within 5 minutes of being home.
The things we, as parents, go through with a smile on our face. The kids had a good time, though, which is what counts. That’s what I’m supposed to say, right?
I'm Crystal. A 30-something mom to 3 young kids living in the Midwest USA. When I'm not chasing my children, I'm a freelance writer and web designer. I like to tell stories from our days and share what we enjoy...
19 Responses
on June 14 2010
LOL. Love it! This is exactly like something my hubby and I would do (he would take it too far). I especially love the alcohol one. Truer words were never spoken. Here we have Casa Bonita (nicely described in this article: http://blogs.westword.com/cafesociety/2009/01/casa_bonita_a_survivors_guide.php) as well and they DO serve margaritas there, a very nice touch.
on June 14 2010
I’ve never been to a Chuck E Cheese but it’s always seemed a bit like a nightmare to me. Your post has pretty much confirmed that. Glad you made it out alive.
Marilyn’s latest post: An Interview with my Son
on June 14 2010
Oh. My. Gosh. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to take my kids to Chuck E. Cheese! I’m afraid they will sprout some kind of fungus. : )
My favorite thing at Chuck E Cheese was taking pictures with my siblings. We still have some of those old photos.
Amber’s latest post: Insanity Is My Middle Name
on June 14th, 2010
@Amber, I thought for sure they’d catch some kind of virus and come down sick afterwards.
on June 14 2010
Love this post. You are right on with the alcohol and I am always amazed at the crap they pawn off as rewards for those tickets. But at the same time, those erasers and knick-knacks make my daughter so happy.
Rudri Patel’s latest post: A Detour
on June 14 2010
And also…
where you can spend an entire mortgage payment in less than 2 hours! Sheesh!
I can’t stand that place!
Glad your kiddos had fun though
Best,
Tina
on June 14 2010
Where a half dozen kids can have ALREADY peed their pants in the ball pit before you even got there.
Secret confession: I’ve never taken my kids to a Chuck e. Cheese. I’m clearly not a self-sacrificial-enough mom, but oh well.
The last time I was in one–for a friend’s kid’s birthday, shortly before having kids myself–I got to witness not one but two fights between adult women in the pizza-eating room. Good times, Chuck E!
Melissa’s latest post: monday is not always my favorite day
on June 14th, 2010
@Melissa, They don’t even have a ball pit anymore. Which is probably a good thing, actually, for the reason you mentioned, but it was my favorite part as a kid. Now they have tunnels the kid can climb through and slide.
on June 14 2010
I think your next-to-last bullet point says it all. Or enough!
Do they still have the singing, jerking robot animals for dinner theatre? I have to know, and I don’t think I’m willing to go myself and find out…
Leslie’s latest post: No complaints: Vol. 2-year-old
on June 14th, 2010
@Leslie, Oh yes, they do. That would be where the pigtailed robotic chicken comes from. Along with the purple monster on drums and a dog, I think, and Chuck E. himself. They scared the crap out of my 4yo.
on June 15 2010
Thankfully there isn’t a Chuck E. Cheese to be found anywhere near my Canadian neck of the woods.If I ever do go for some insane reason, I appreciate the warning that I should bring a flask.
Christine LaRocque’s latest post: I’m not wishing away the diapers
on June 15 2010
Confession time: I’ve never been to a Chuck E. Cheese. Ever. Not a child, when it might have been fun, and not as an adult. I’ve heard so many stories from other parents who have been brave enough to attempt it…and from what they’ve shared, I think I’d like to retain my Chuck E. Cheese virginity.
And I think I’d be pretty freaked out by a pigtailed robotic chicken as well!
Crystal @ Semi-Crunchy Mama’s latest post: Outdoor Challenge Monday {Gardens and Earthworms}
on June 15 2010
Never mind the kiddos, I’m terrified of the robotic chicken. And don’t get me started on the mouse!
Stacia’s latest post: The Hand-Off
on June 15 2010
My kids get to pick a place to go out to eat for their birthday and my daughter’s was yesterday. She picked Chuck-E-Cheese and I was trying to convince myself it wouldn’t be too bad (which is hard enough as we have been before). This post has not helped. I don’t think I can change her mind, either.
Charlotte’s latest post: My Mind is Fixated on Making Birthday Cakes
on June 15th, 2010
@Charlotte, Oh no, I’m sorry!
on June 16 2010
Does your C.E.C. have an enormous, mechanical, singing hippo? Aiee! That thing is frightening. Plus, it continually warbles only one song: Swannee River. I wanted to kill myself.
TheKitchenWitch’s latest post: Veg-Head Tuesday: The Spectacular Shroom
on June 16th, 2010
@TheKitchenWitch, A hippo singing Swannee River? I’m glad I missed that. So what you’re telling me is that it could be worse. That’s good to know. Though very unfortunate for you.
on June 17 2010
Where a kid can pee in the ball pit?
Aunt Becky’s latest post: VERY FUNNY PRANKSTERS: Which One Of You Stole My Pants?
on June 17th, 2010
@Aunt Becky, But ours doesn’t have a ball pit anymore! Where will the kids pee at now?