Weekend Episode

We were invited to a birthday party this weekend for one of Daniel's friends from daycare. The little boy was turning five, and Daniel was probably one of the youngest kids there, minus a few babies. However, that doesn't excuse us from the fact that we will probably never be invited back again. First off, Daniel has this thing lately that he's super excited to go somewhere, especially a birthday party. But, as soon as we are walking up to the door he becomes this crazy child that doesn't want to go inside. He heads back for the car and says he wants to go home. People are looking at us like, "what's wrong with your kid?" So we calmly have to reply and say, "it just takes him a while to warm up." Finally we get him inside the house, but he won't leave my leg. Jay and I are separated from the rest of the parents and the party as we are playing with our own kid in the play room near the front of the house. Finally Daniel's cousin Jake arrives and off goes Daniel...whew. For the party's entertainment, the little boy had his tae kwan do instructor at his party. All the kids were to be rounded up and follow along with some martial arts moves, chants, etc. Of course Daniel wants nothing to do with it. So, again, it's my child that is over in the toy bin while all the other kids are participating. I thought, at least he's not being obnoxious, until I see him swinging a toy that is attached to a long string and is about to hit one of the kids doing his tae kwan do moves. Yikes. I dart by all the parents with their video cameras, trying to bend over, but my belly won't squish anymore. I calmly sit with Daniel and we play with non-disruptive toys by ourselves, until he starts crying because he's bumped his thumb that just lost its nail, and now it's bleeding. I picked up my crying child, trying to again, bend down as we both pass the video cameras! Jay and I took him to the bathroom, and got him cleaned up and calmed down. The calmness lasted all until it was time to sing "Happy Birthday" and have cake. Guess who blew out the candles???? Yep, you guessed it, Daniel! Now the actual birthday boy is in tears as he's telling his dad that Daniel blew out the candles. His parents immediately try to distract him by saying it's time for the pinata. All the kids lined up, except mine. I look over and Daniel's playing tug-o-war with the dad, trying to get the bat away from him. Jay got that settled and Daniel went to stand in line. But...the pinata was broke open short of Daniel's turn to swing, the candy flew everywhere, and instead of Daniel diving in to get his share, he runs the other way and cries. Oh please, please, please let this stage be over with soon....