Don't forget the nipples

So Matt's last post was about taking the munchkin out into the world, and that is exactly what this post is about, but from my perspective. Today the munchkin and I ventured forth; I had a doctor's appointment, and we wanted to show him off at Matt's work. So, I got him dressed and ready. Hat - check. Socks - check. Blankets - check. And the much-needed pacifier, which we forgot the first time we took him out in public - check. Then I packed the diaper bag. Diapers - check. Wipes - check. Change of clothes for him - check. Extra shirt for me, in case of a major incident - check. Formula - check. Then I got myself ready. Wallet - check. Phone - check. Chapstick - check. Coat - check. And so we loaded into the car and headed out on our field trip . . .

On the road . . . Well, I forgot my drink, but I can survive. No big deal. I forgot the rattle, but he doesn't really respond to it anyway. No big deal.

I get to the doctor's office and get ready to feed the munchkin so he won't cry during my exam, only to find out that despite having packed a bottle of formula (the pre-mixed kind so I wouldn't have to worry about finding water or what temperature it was), I forgot a nipple to put on the bottle. Which meant I couldn't feed the munchkin. Big freakin' deal! So I deliberate . . . there's a Target nearby . . . should I leave the waiting room and go get some or risk the freak out that WILL occur when he wakes up hungry. Because, let me tell you, if he's hungry there is no consoling him; there's no distracting him; he will cry until he is fed.

I didn't have time to leave the doctor's office to go get a nipple, so I prayed that he would stay asleep until after my appointment. Luckily, he did. He slept like a champ. I picked up his carrier and moved it a dozen times; people took his blanket down to see his face; they stroked his cheeks and tickled his feet; they oohed and aahed over him; I put him in the car; I took him out of the car; I put him in a shopping basket once we got to the store; I took him out of the basket once I checked out at the store. And he slept! He also slept through our tour of Matt's work, where Matt carried him around like a rag doll and again people oohed and aahed and touched him.

So this is the awesomeness that was today . . . crisis averted. But it revealed two things: first, taking a munchkin out in public is stressful (I don't want to be that parent, the one who lets her child scream uncontrollably and disturb everyone else, nor do I want to be that other parent, who forgets to put a hat on her baby's head or shoes on his feet or who can't feed her obviously starving baby because she forgot a nipple!); second, there are just too many things to remember when bringing a munchkin out into the world! Alas, I know that I will be that second parent who forgets necessities. Maybe I should make a check-list for leaving the house. No, I'll just forget to check it! Thankfully, there are Targets and Walmarts every 5 miles or so, and I will just stop and buy those necessities, ideally before a munchkin melt down. And hopefully, I can avoid being the first that parent, because, well, I have manners, unlike a lot of people (that's another blog post altogether!) and I find it unacceptable to impose my screaming child on unsuspecting people just trying to go about their day.

So, thank you Munchkin for sleeping through Mommy's mistake. And to everyone else, when taking a baby out into the world, don't forget the nipples!

CM