8/24/09 The Fine Art Of Disappointment
Life is unfair… We’ve all heard it, heck we’ve all experienced it. In the past year and a half I’ve had more disappointment than I care to recount, but you hate to see your kids realize this is how things go. You don’t want them to be spoiled, but you also don’t want to see their little hearts broken. So you try and handle the big ones as gently as possible… “Why can’t you and Mommy live together?” “Why did your Grandma in the wheel chair go to heaven?” And trust me, I’m not perfect, I answered them the best I could. But it seems lately there have been a wave of tiny disappointments, the type that put a damper on the fun you were looking forward too. Oddly, they have really surrounded food. I told you all on the CRN (and Twitter… and Myspace) how Mc Donald’s screwed the kids on the Happy Meals the other night… The toy is the draw for those otherwise boring meals, so when they leave the kids with a box only containing the crappy food it’s a let down. Then we went to Denny’s and they changed their kids menu, no more mini-hot dogs (Lucy’s favorite) or grilled cheese (A Bing must have), they were bummed, but I explained that sometimes they need to change the menu. Then last night, Bob’s Big Boy… The Bob’s that has been Lucy’s favorite place to go since she was old enough to have an opinion, the place she and I would go for a “Daddy and Me” dinner while her Mom worked, the first real place she recognized on sight (Which ended our meals at Mo’s, it’s across the street within eyesight of Bob’s, so Lucy would have no part of being in the hood and not hitting BBB.) When I asked them where the wanted to go eat last night the vote was 100% Bob’s. We walked in, Lucy and Bing requested different color balloons and then we were sat by the “Bob” inside. Two kids menus and one breakfast menu (I like their eggs)… And no more hot dog on the kids menu. I know hot dogs are unhealthy and generally full of gross stuff, but it was what Lucy ordered there for the last 4+ years. She was really bummed, but I think I was more upset… I know things change, we get unmarried, we grow older, we lose things, but why this? Why ruin the thing my children and I look forward too, an evening of laughs and full tummies at our favorite place. Lucy was a trooper, after quizzing the server on where the hot dogs were she ordered plain noodles she looked at me and said “at least we can have fudge cake.”
We will have other favorites and menus will continue to change, but on that Monday evening on a warm August day we lost a tiny family tradition.
Rock On, Jack
Tags: Bob's Big Boy, cable radio networks, CRN, Denny's, jack and stench, jack and stretch, jack heine, jamie and danny, jamie white, Mc Donalds, star 98.7, stretch roberts
August 25th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
I’m SORRY Jack!! I know exactly how you feel about the disappointment on those adorable little faces!
I have a happy, feel good story for you about the Elephant Bar in the 661. When my kids were little (about Lucy & Bing’s ages) we went to the Elephant Bar and they we DEAD SET on Mac ‘N Cheese…you know, the Kraft gross kind.
Well, no Mac ‘N Cheese was on the kids menu … BUT, that didn’t stop our server, who went to the Manager, who went to the Kitchen Staff, who went across the parking lot to Vons and bought Mac ‘N Cheese for my kids!!! My faith in humanity was restored. The staff at Elephant Bar went out of their way! (and got big tips to boot!!) and my kids couldn’t have been happier!!
Guess what’s on the Kid’s Menu now at Elephant Bar? You would be correct!! Mac ‘N Cheese!!!
KUDOS to the Elephant Bar in the 661!! They RULE and continue to get our business!!! Check it out the next time you’re in town. You won’t be disappointed!!!!
SpaceMom
August 25th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
The moral of the story is Lucy’s words, “…at least we can have fudge cake”.
Kids are much more flexible that we get as we grow older. With practice you can learn to change with the seasons and flow with the streams. Its hard, but zen living, trying to live in the moment rather that hold the past or fear the future, really is a better way to live. I continue to practice…
Hugs to you Jack and yer kidlets.
August 25th, 2009 at 10:43 pm
I like how Lucy is looking at the positive side. I also love how you tell a good story, Jack. Thanks for sharing.
August 25th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
Aww:( That is really sad. I hate it too. Why does everything have to change? And especially when there’s something you are really used to having and loving? Hmm.. I am still talking about menu items but … how metaphoric!
Thank God there’s still hot fudge cake. Or what would be the point of going to BBB?
August 26th, 2009 at 8:50 am
Wow that sucks jack but look at it this way. She may have been bummed but it sounds like she took it well, i assume if she had a fit and cryed you would have said that she did, and I think that was VERY big of her to quiz the server and order something else and then make a really funny comment about desert.
You are the best dad Jack!
Kevin LA
August 26th, 2009 at 9:38 am
Another sweet and poignant story. Thank you for sharing!
August 26th, 2009 at 10:17 am
LOL…. “At least we can have fudge cake”…. classic! That Lucy is the light in your life & a smart little cookie, too! I wish my kids were as flexible as yours – LOL.
I really miss the CRN show and the Podcasts. Feeling a little *blue*… but, it will pass.
Hugs & Hershey Kisses….
Miss Heather
August 26th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
Thats awful! But reality and its awesome to have a dad like you who I am sure helped her feel better! =D
August 27th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Jack, I really agree with the view point of “silly woman”. Lucy made lemonade (in this case fudge cake) out of lemons. Everyday life changes and the test is if we can see the positive in the things we feel are negative. Children are resilient and it feels better when we can smile and embrace the new program. They learn from how we, as adults, cope with disappointment. If we worry and react about the small stuff how can we be totally be there for the big stuff? It’s time to explore the unknown. Create another food adventure, find another favorite place to eat, smile and live life. I think we (us adults) sometimes use our own disappointments and mirror them in our kids small disappointments. Jack, you are an awesome dad. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Life is an adventure. You and your kids go out and live and be happy. Like “Silly woman” says, “live in the moment and don’t fear the future”….
September 2nd, 2009 at 6:28 am
Hey Jack you have more talents than you realize. You could go somewhere with your photography and writing. Maybe you could somehow combine them!!!
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September 24th, 2009 at 8:19 pm
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