T-Rex Traumatization: A Parent's How-To Guide

I know, you're going to start shaking your head and asking your computer when I will stop trying to force my crazy kid into situations that make him freak out and blow his little mind and the answer is NEVER! Because this family will take advantage of all this city has to offer! And he will have what I never had! And he will do things I never got to do! And he will grow up educated and wordly and will learn NOT TO FLIP OUT over EVERY STUPID LITTLE THING SOMEDAY MARK MY WORDS FOR THE LOVE SO HELP ME!

[extra long drawn out inhalation inserted here]

So Sue the travelling T-Rex came to town. And if you're not sure who Sue is, she happens to be the largest and most complete T-Rex skeleton ever found. Her real home is at the Field Museum in Chicago, but the friendly scientists there were kind enough to make a cast of all her lovely bones and now the Plaster Sue has her own travelling road show. And what could possibly be better than a bunch of dinosaur-type lookits to a dino-loving four-year old on a Sunday afternoon?

Turns out, there are quite a lot of options. BUT, for the sake of the story let's just say that YES! DINOSAURS! BRING. IT. ON, MAMA!

And so we did. And forty-five minutes across town and through construction and $8 in parking fees later, we finally arrived at the St. Louis Science Center to see some practically real dino bones, up close and in person.

Things started off pretty well, actually. There was an animated movie playing in the IMAX and it just so happened that as soon as we came through the door, a couple on their way out handed us their extra show tickets. SWEET! I settled in at the food court (such a terrible place to be for a pre-menstrual and dieting mother) and prepared to hang out with Claire for a bit. Just as I was diving into my Pizza Hut breadsticks, however, (3.5 points each) Logan and Skip came back around the corner. It was a no-go, evidently. As soon as the lights went out, Logan screamed bloody murder and Skip couldn't get the kid out fast enough. Then, as soon as we exited the food court the robotic dinosaurs downstairs let out a tremendous R O A R which caused another onset of PANIC! and TEARS! and OMG what now? Do we cut our losses and head home or do we forge ahead and drag our little demon child along with us, possibly ruining everyone else's afternoon too?

Well, you know what they say! Misery loves company! After a brief consultation with each other, Skip and I agreed that yes, our kid is not normal and quite possibly has a problem which may or may not be related to anxiety and/or terrible parenting (which we didn't say aloud but we both knew what the other was thinking). Skip hustled Logan up on his shoulders and onward, ho!

Here he is "smiling" after a near-fatal panic attack. The nasty robot dino that nearly did the kid in is in the background.

Things were tentative, at best. A close watch on our little guy showed we were walking a fine line here. We finally made our way down and around into Sue's little nook.

Never turn your back on a T-Rex. Even one who is only bones. (and fake bones at that)

And just so Logan wouldn't be completely traumatized from our Sunday outing, we gave him $10 to spend in the gift shop. For being so BRAVE.

A stuffed dino to remember Sue by.......all's well that ends well?

And just so you feel like you were there with us? Here's a Monday Mosaic, just for you. You're welcome.

(Now pretend this actually posted Monday morning, as the author originally intended and then forgot to schedule. Cool?)