tears

I cried today. 

It was stupid really. 

The boys and I went downtown to spend K's lunch hour with him.  We try to do that at least once a week when he's working close by.  It helps make up for them not getting a lot of time to see him in the evenings.  Plus, it gives us something to do other than movies and computer games.

We went to The Gateway to wander around the Planetarium because it's cool and it's free, and I like free.  I parked in the Summer Garage thinking that if we were under an hour it would be free and if not, it's only two bucks.  I also like convenient and easy. 

We had a really good time.  We spent most of it watching the ball machine thing.  H was so fascinated with the whirly gigs and what-nots.  G and I spent some time doing one of their planet quizzes and he was doing really well.  At one point I pulled out my parking ticket to check the time stamp so I could make sure to leave on time.  I remember I had until 1:03. 

K eventually had to get back to work (darn it) so I decided that we would leave too, rather than stay and play more like we sometimes do.  I had some things I needed to get done at home, and all of a sudden I really didn't want to pay for parking.  I convinced the boys to go, got them down to the car and buckled into their seats and reached into my pocket for the ticket. 

It was gone. 

You have to understand, I NEVER lose parking tickets.  I'm anal about that sort of thing and I started to get a little frantic.  (I know that you're thinking that it's not that big of a deal, but it really really was to me.  at the time.)  I looked through all of my pockets, I looked through my purse, I looked through the car.  I was even crazy enough to lock the kids in the car (I only admit this to show how upset I was) and run up to the bathroom, thinking that would be the only place it could have fallen out.  Nothing.  I ran back to the car, checking my pockets over and over again the whole time (definition of crazy, right?).  I got in the car and headed out with some random thought that as long as I was really within the hour, I might be able to talk my way out of the situation if I got a sympathetic parking attended.  Like they exist.

I pulled up to the window and tried to explain and she just said, "Lost ticket $7.00."  I had to hand over my drivers licence and credit card and sit and wait while she filled out some form, finally handed my stuff back to me and I pulled out of the parking garage.  I called K, and started bawling on the phone about the whole thing and how I was sorry I'd lost the ticket.  He was like, "You're not upset because you think I'll be mad are you?"  And I wasn't, because I knew he wouldn't be.  I was just so mad at myself for such an out of character, careless mistake.  Plus, I was mad that I was upset about such a stupid thing.  If I'd been thinking clearly I would have thought..."Hey, I have to pay for a full day now, we might as well stay and have some fun." Or "Well, that was a $7.00 mistake.  Oops, moving on." 

Anyway, I finally calmed down said goodbye to K.  I heard a little voice from the back seat pipe up, "Mom.  I not sad at you.  I happy at you!"  and I looked back to see a beautiful little 2 year old face trying to smile at his mom to make her happy.   My kids are so amazing.

And just for the record.  NO.  I'm not pregnant.  I've just been a little stressed lately.