If you are ever bored

Go shopping the day after Christmas.  Try taking six kids, each of whom have between $20 and $65, to Barnes and Noble the day after Christmas.  Barnes and Noble at the mall.

Shudder.

No, seriously, it really wasn't too bad.  We started off in the sporting goods store, ostensibly to return a polar fleece that The Hubster bought for me.  There wasn't a larger one - bless his heart, he bought it too small - and so I had to wait in line to get it back from the clerk and buy a new football for Nik.

He's decided that he really wants to play football next year and has focused on becoming a kicker.  He's gotten really good at it, too.  We bought another football, since it's pretty tiring to kick it and run to retrieve it all day.  I'm going to get a few more, but I'm willing to bet that they are cheaper at Wal-Mart.  Which is a place that I won't go until after the first of the year.  For obvious reasons.

Riley had a meltdown in the sporting goods store - a true, honest to God, embarrassing one.  It's been so long since she's had one that I'd almost forgotten what it was like to be out in public while it went on.  My, can people stare.  It's hard to differentiate between an autistic meltdown and just a spoiled brat. 

The bookstore was less challenging in that regard, but more difficult in that each of them wanted my help in securing a couple of books, and no one wanted to be second.  "Mom, how about this book?  Wait, I'm asking!  Where are the Charlie and Lola books?  It's my turn!!!"  OH, and there was the incredibly loud yelling match between two men, one of whom accused the other of taking pictures up his wife's skirt.  Security was called and the man loudly protested his innocence. This was going on in the row next to the kids area, so we were privy to the entire screaming match. 

Good times, indeed.

But all books were secured, Starbucks was visited ( the one in the bookstore is a GREAT idea) and I took them to lunch.  One of The Hubster's companies that he deals with gave him a Visa gift card, and so we had lunch out.  Me and six kids.  I'm either brave or stupid, I'm not sure. 

All in all, a fairly good, if slightly stressful day.  Not much to report.

What I want to know is, what is the worst gift you ever got?  Not just for this year, but any year, and for any occasion. 

____________________________

Exercise: 4.12 miles, mostly running, with sprints added in, three times, just for fun.  If you need a cool running song, check out Thunder, by Nuttin' but Stringz.  The fast sections make GREAT sprint runs.  I'm sure my neighbors enjoyed that show this morning.

Comments

[Cami]

Worst gift ever received?
Well, um, from one of my students (and this was a long long long time ago) 2 kittens (actual kittens) that had been um - well [sent to heaven very very early]
dried and stuffed and placed under a glass bubble "to put on your piano at home Miss"
That was bad ........

[meritt]

Shaking my head at the poster with the kittens under glass given to her... shudder!!!!! Ok but really what I wanted to post was; how did the "taking pictures under my wifes skirt" end up! Oh my!!! Now that would have been a blog entry in itself!

[Michelle]

I avoided doing the gift-return/gift card cash-in thing today and my husband volunteered to do the Barnes and Noble tour with the kids himself. That alone assures him a place in heaven.

[Heather]

I have nothing to top that first post's worst gift. That is the worst gift EVER.
I will say that the worst Christmas was when the only 2 things on my list were a Mickey Mouse watch and suede coat and on Christmas morning, we opened our gifts and I had crap that I didn't ask for and my sister got my Mickey mouse watch and jacket. My mom avoided the tantrum that she would have endured from my sister and swore that she didn't get them mixed up but that I must have been mistaken that I'd actually been the one to ask for them. My sister, of course, went along with that. Why would she want to give up those super cool gifts? I'm still holding a grudge on that one :)

[Karly]

I can't think of the worst gift I've ever received...but the worst gift I've ever given...I was probably 13 or 14 and my aunt had been talking about going on a diet. I bought her a can of Slim Fast. Yes, I did.

[owlhaven]

We're heading to Barnes and Noble soon too-- Grandma always gives us gift cards. it's one of the highlights of our year, even though the littlest kids ALWAYS have to go potty while we're there at least twice. I have no idea how the bookstore always has that effect on them!
Mary, mom to many

[Shelly]

Worst gift....I have quite a few from my MIL. I would have to say the worst gift given was my first Christmas married to hubby. We spent it with his family, who supposedly forgotten he was married, so there wasn't a single gift for me under the tree. It was a very sad first Christmas.

[Tammy]

I can't think of the worst present ever so I'll just tell you about this Christmas and how bad it went. But, it still can't top that first comment with the stuffed kitten. Ugh!
After going on and on about the gift my MIL gave my husband's brother and his wife (an antique depression glass cake plate that was her great grandmother's) we opened our gift. A coffee cup that used to sit in her grandmother's windowsill and she used it to start plants in. For my daughter she gave her a robe (that was already hers) that they'd been sewing together and had not had time to finish. She finished sewing it and put it in a box for her. Meanwhile her cousins opened gag gifts containing cash inside. No cash in my daughter's robe. We checked after everyone left. My daugher (who never stays on one task long) spent 2 days making her uncles and grandpa homemade cookies. My MIL criticized each of them she ate. I am still steaming....
I told my husband next year for Christmas the 3 of us are just going to go to the beach for Christmas! Can anyone blame me?

[Kelli]

Worst gift: Almost every year from MIL, usually some tacky statue thing that is so ugly it is criminal. But this year she improved I got a bag of M&M's...yum...and I didn't have to trash them like I always do the rest of the gifts.

[Rohini]

Oh wow! And here I complain about taking the one kid shopping. And eating with him at a restaurant - not unless I want to be the most unpopular person there, with waiters and patrons alike!

[Kristine John]

I think you are a wise momma... to feed six hungry children.

It does feel slightly stupid to tackle something like a lunch alone, but I do the stores every now and again with all 6 of mine...

It sounds like quite the adventure!

[FishyGirl]

I have been contemplating taking all 4 out by myself to go to Kohls so my seven year old can redeem her gift cards, but frankly, I'm scared to. Scared out of my gourd - mostly that I'd lose one, but also because they just cant behave in public. Trying to find a sitter to watch the middles so just the 7 yo and the baby and I can go - much easier to deal with when one of them is tied up - the 2 year old can climb out of the double stroller, otherwise I might not be so afraid to do this.

Worst gift? Hmmm, that would be tough, actually - mine are run of the mill bad, like sweaters that aren't my style or color or size, tchotchkes that I don't like but am too afraid to get rid of because I don't want to hurt the giver's feelings (I've actually gotten over that now - just can't have that kind of stuff for long with 4 kids under 8 around), that sort of thing.

[rachel]

I got all GREAT gifts this year. We don't need to mention that I stuffed my own stocking at home this year. :) I also wrapped myself a few presents.

My worst present was the monogrammed pillowcase my step-uncle gave me that had my name misspelled. gah. Other gifts I didn't like were things for my kids (which we returned - like Bratz dolls), or things that just aren't designed for our family (like Christian decorations). But the misspelled monogram pissed me off.

My judgemental streak went away once I had a difficult kid tantrum in public. gah. I am glad that the rest of your day went pretty well. I love eating food I don't have to cook!

[Brandy]

I've gotten alot of bad things from my MIL, but she actually meant well (this is the belief I am holding to for my sanity). Dh doesn't usually do well, but this year he really, really tried and I am loving at least 2 of my gifts!!

[Michelle]

Hi, I too have an autistic child, he is 9. I could totally relate to what you said about being stared at when they have a meltdown and people not knowing if this kid is just a spoilt brat. It's hard, but we love them anyway! XXX

[Shawn]

The best gift I've received are the Table Top Cigar Cutters.