We were aiming to make the 7pm screening at a cinema at least half an hour from my parents’.
Bloody Canberra. Nothing is ever close.
No, that’s not true. Cinemas with convenient showing times are too far away.
There was an inkling that maybe we were being ambitious.
But surprisingly, dinner and bathtime proceeded seamlessly. Then, came bedtime. Holding my breath, quietly praying for one night of no screaming protests I kept a close eye on the clock.
6:30 on the nose, the twinlets miraculously fell fast asleep.
A packet of chips, a bag of Maltesers, a highly-critically acclaimed movie with my beloved in an airconditioned theatre.
Was it too much to ask?
With perfect cinema ettiquette, I had my phone on vibrate, tucked deep in my handbag. I was ready to soak in a couple of hours of escapism.
Mr Surfer on the other hand, was on standby.
“Put it away! ” I scolded in a loud whisper. “They’ll be fine…”
Husbands don’t marry on the account of becoming better listeners. Quite the contrary.
Throughout the first hour of a fabulous movie, mine kept nervously looking at his phone.
Just as the most magnificent scene of the movie started, where the majestic glowing whale jumps out of the water, came the emergency phone call.
Running out to take it and back in a flash, Mr Surfer told me the boys had woken up and were in hysterics.
The boys had been sleeping in new beds in unfamiliar surroundings. The last thing they remembered was saying good night to their parents, suddenly waking up with no idea where they were.
They were inconsolable.
“I’ll go home. You watch the rest of the movie and I’ll come and get you…” Mr Surfer suggested.
“No,” I sighed. “Let’s just go…” It was too good to be true.
For the entire half hour drive back, K-Bear’s high pitched screams over the phone’s loudspeaker made the movie’s intensity seem next to nought.
“Papa! Where ARE you??? Where are YOU???!” he wailed repeatedly.
I pictured distraught grandparents collapsing from the intense trauma that be baby sitting twin grandsons.
Just as we were about to enter the driveway, Mr Surfer confessed that the movie was too extreme for him anyway.
“I’ve never told you but I have recurring nightmares about tigers…” he muttered.
Oh, great. I had two boys crying for a father who was actually the biggest wuss of all!
Walking through the door, you could cut the parents’ guilt with a sharp knife.
“Bad parents! Bad, bad parents! Never EVER leave us alone like that AGAIN! How DARE you go out and try to have some FUN!” were the deathly stares they gave us.
So, don’t ask me how “Life of Pi” was.
I wouldn’t know.
But the massive glow in the dark whale was very cool.
Just watch out for the tiger.
Joining in Essentially Jess for IBOT
Mumabulous says
Man that’s a downer! But have faith – there will come a day in the not too distant future when you will be able to go on an uninterrupted date night. My girls love having a baby sitter – its a great opportunity to show off.
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Deb @ Bright and Precious says
Oh Grace! What a debacle! I hate when you conspire to do something utterly ‘normal’ (in most people’s eyes) and it all seems to be falling into plan and then BAM! – of course it was too good to be true! Could relate to your experience so well! And sorry for laughing about Mr Surfer having a tiger recurring dream!
As for the movie – guess what? I had a similar fate to you. Though kids were not my downfall. I attempted to watch Life of Pi yesterday and only lasted 30 mins! A migraine got the better of me and I felt like if I didn’t leave I would be vomitting in the cinema. Not a good look, hey? Anyway – I think the 3D was to blame. I WILL watch the rest of it (in 2D) tomorrow. Can’t wait. I only wish you lived closer and we’d go together! xx
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mamagrace71 says
Oh, Deb! We are we not living closer together??! That’s awful about the migraine. Hope you get to enjoy the second attempt. We’re actually going again tomorrow too!
Here’s hoping we have better notes to compare after tomorrow 🙂 xxx
Rachel from Redcliffe Style says
It won’t be long before you can stay for an entire movie. Rachel xx
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SarahMac says
Oh no..you poor things. I just went to see it on the weekend. Stuff of nightmares. But good. The Gold Coast has the same problem re cinemas, we have to drive ages to on also.
There’s always next time Grace!!
SarahMac recently posted..The Life of Pitch Perfect.
Penny says
Oh guys, so sorry you missed out on having a full night away. It’s so rare isn’t it and it’s usually filled with some worry too.
And you’re actually great parents for going out. You’re reconnecting with their Daddy, you’re finding time for yourself and you’re having time to relax (even if it was half of Pi) – all important things to being a great parents. I sound like Kirri ( I think she’s rubbing off on me!).
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Chrissie at Organised Chaos says
Oh no! You are definitely still entitled to a date night with hubby, and make sure he knows it! Sorry to hear it didn’t go to plan. xx
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Kaz @ Melting Moments says
Oh, they are gorgeous! We haven’t tried to watch a movie at the cinema for some time. We really want to see The Hobbit.. so we’ll see what happens 🙂 How frustrating for you to get all the way there only to have to turn back. Hope you get to a movie again soon… maybe a matinee? 🙂
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Aroha @ Colours of Sunset says
Oh Bugga! See if you turn your phone on silent, put it in your bag/pocket, you would have watched the whole movie blissfully unaware there was any drama 🙂 Although you’d probably have never got another baby sitter again ! 😉
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Psych Babbler says
That’s tough! I can understand the guilt but you guys need date nights too. Better luck next time! I must admit I haven’t seen the movie yet.
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Rachel @ The Kids Are All Right says
Aw Grace, it gets better. You will one day be able to watch a whole movie without receiving the emergency call home. But you may never again be able to watch a whole movie without falling asleep.
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Josefa @always Josefa says
oh Grace! that is horrible, a very similar thing happened to me, many moons ago when I sat down with my girlfriends – in gold class no less, to watch the Sex and The City movie – right smack in the middle, the vibrating phone and I had to run like the wind, out of the cinema, into a dark carpark, dash home like it was nobodies business, to come home to one completely distraught baby and a completely exhausted daddy – both needed mum!
It get’s better and we now watch movies in the afternoon – easier that way xx
Josefa from #teamIBOT
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Rhianna says
Oh you poor thing, what a sucky thing to happen. I have never had anything like this happen, mainly because I could never get the gumption to leave me kids, which I naturally chastise myself over as well. Sometimes for us poor mums there is no winning is there. Fairy wishes and butterfly kisses lovely
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Mandie says
Oh no. Ahhh kids.
What more can I say? The whale sounded awesome…
Mandie recently posted..See You In 2013
Me says
Oh no – how sad that you didn’t get the evening to yourselves – another time it will happen !!
Hope everyone is over the terror of waking up in unfamilir surroundings and tigers !!
Have the best day !
Me
Me recently posted..Being Kind To Myself
littlebirdlittlebee says
I definitely feel your pain! We’ve had about 2 dates in the last 7 years I think!
littlebirdlittlebee recently posted..The Falls.
Catherine Rodie Blagg says
We hardly ever go out, but I always worry about something like this happening and like Mr surfer keep a close eye on my phone. I hope you get to see the rest of the movie – it looks amazing.
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Lisa@RandomActsOfZen says
Oh Grace, I’m feeling your pain. Our first movie at night after Bella was born was a nightmare for me. We only lived 3 blocks from the cinema, but I couldn’t stop checking my phone, just in case. It may take a couple of years, but you will enjoy nights out, and your boys will probably love the adventure of time away from mum and dad x
Emily says
Oh no! Sorry you missed it. And that missing it came attached with a big dollop of parenting guilt!
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Emily says
What a funny post ! A massive shame you missed the movie, and I feel sorry for you parents, they must have felt awful, I know mine do whenever they can’t console our 3. And very funny about men not becoming better listeners – I can TOTALLY relate 🙂 Emily
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Robomum says
Poor you guys.
Half a movie and a tiger phobia to boot…
Maybe next time.
Robomum recently posted..Huggles in Bed: Stocks are Limited!
Rita says
Oh Grace… I saw it when you updated you Facebook status… I hope you will have another chance very soon to have a quiet evening with your hubby.
Rita recently posted..My life according to no plan
Jacana says
Bummer !!!
Guess you will have to go for the DVD instead.
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Danielle says
‘Husbands don’t marry on the account of becoming better listeners. Quite the contrary.’
Pah, that would make a great t-shirt.
I’m busting to see it…..at least you didn’t ruin the end for me 😉
rhian @melbs says
OhNo poor you. Parental guilt is just the worst isn’t it. If it helps I heard the film is really rubbish and is much better viewed on the small TV screen in your lounge when it makes it to DVD. 😉
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Robyn (@slightly_deep) says
Oh poor you! We were going to try to get out and see the hobbit while we had grandparents babysitting, but in the end decided not to risk it because our littles were too unsettled away from home. Just think of the future, when they are all grown up and we can enjoy ANY movie, ANY time we want! 😉 They will grow up quicker than we think.
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Seana Smith says
This reminds me why I am so much better at being a mum to older kids!! No more calls like that, there have been a few in the past though – terrible. Better luck next time you try a mini-escape.
Seana Smith recently posted..Activity Ideas For Kids When It’s BLOODY Hot in Sydney
EssentiallyJess says
Oh we’ve been there. It hardly makes going out seem worth it at all does it?
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Carly says
I haven’t seen it yet but I am am just starting the book now. Perhaps you will have to make do with the book and imagine the glowing whale!
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Tracey @ Bliss Amongst Chaos says
Oh dear. What a shame.
Never mind. Maybe you could attempt it again but on your own next time, and leave Mr Surfer with the twinlets! That sounds like a good idea!
BTW, Maltesers are an absolute necessity when going to the movies! 🙂
xx
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Kylez @ A Study in Contradictions says
Oh no, that really sux. Thankfully we have been lucky enough to have babysitters come to our house the few times we have attempted to go out without Mia so it has gone ok. The one time we left her at my parents she had a nice amount of ice-cream and fell asleep on my step-Dad’s lap so she couldn’t care less where we were! I know this kind of night is still waiting in store for us though!
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Kirsty @ My Home Truths says
What a bummer – that’s my worst nightmare, going out and needing to drop everything to come back home again. It’s happened to me before – it surely doesn’t make you feel better about daring to leave them and have some time to yourself, does it?
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Nami says
You have my sincerest sympathies – to tell you the truth – I stopped trying going to the movies because I always failed to make it to the end. Just wait for the DVD…
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Mum Talks Autism says
Oh darling I can so relate to this post. To be honest we just have up. I hope you and the surfer do get some couple time though because it is so important. I wish someone had given me this advice. Hope your darling boys settled ok and their grandparents have recovered. 🙂
Much Love. MTA.
Mum Talks Autism recently posted..A girl loving a boy. Autism and all.
Kyla @ Three Quarters Full says
Oh that’s hysterical, hubby was probably watching the phone and begging for the call. Bummer about having to come home though, we’ve been so lucky with Dex, he’s generally happy to be left, makes me so sad when he waves goodbye at Nanny’s house without even looking back!
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Bridget says
Ha! Mr. Surfer is scared of a movie tiger? I think he paid them to wake up screaming so he wouldn’t have to do it later from his own nightmares! 😉
Bridget recently posted..The Fixer
Rina says
Ough date night. Can never do it without the guilty feeling. When my husband and I went on a late night date (clubbing time) I couldn’t stop thinking the what if and quietly had a panic attack when realised we hadn’t made a will incase something hapened to us and was like banging my head on the dashboard ‘shoot! We shoud have made that effing will! Shoot! Shoot!’…you know 😀 and then started thinking if we had a will whether we should renew it everytime we go on a date night. All that toughts happened during the drive to the venue. Luckily the boys were sleeping thoughout the night. Phew. And we came home safe and sound 😛
iSophie says
Oh no! That is totally something that would (and has) happened to me. Except the twin part, that must make it like the screaming was in stereo.
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daddownunder says
I just finished the book and loved it, I think I might nervously step into a cinema tomorrow, hoping it has been treated with care. Gosh I miss going to the cinema
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Leanne @ Deep Fried Fruit says
I fear the movie might be too “heavy” for me. Or scary. Or too “carnivorous”. I have not idea why … because I don’t really know what it’s about … but I love animals … and people … and I don’t really want to see them eating each other. Do they eat each other? Oh .. you probably don’t know … you left half way through …
Leanne @ Deep Fried Fruit
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Sabeen @ Mumchic says
Oh dear! I feel you darl.
Oh! So that you in the cinema …all fidgety!?! Just kidding 🙂
We too watched Life of Pi last night… in Canberra! What a coincidence!! I had my two little people and my parents come along for the ride. The glow in the dark whale was magnificent, the tiger.. unfaithful.
Hope another trouble free date night rolls along for you very soon. Until then, enjoy Canberra xx
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Sabeen @ Mumchic says
Oops I just noticed you watched the flick a couple of days ago now! I take my words back xx
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Karen says
Oh no! And with the cost of movies these days you also want to get your money worth. I can just imagine the guilt when you got home, hopefully there will be lots more successful date nights to come!
Karen
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Twitchy says
Sounds all too familiar. Not the tigerphobia part, but the ‘why do we bother entertaining the notion of trusting small children to stay asleep if we leave the house for a couple of hours’ part. Particularly etched in my memory is the time my MIL insisted our first would take a bottle of expressed milk if I were not there to distract him. Came home from wedding to purple infant and redfaced MIL. At least she offered!
Lara @ This Charming Mum says
Such a shame it ended that way. Better luck next time. Up side? That’s such a great title for the blog post!
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Veronica @ Mixed Gems says
What’s date night? 😉
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Becc says
I am so glad our son has been staying with family for our date nights since he was young. What a horrible experience. Would make date nights more stressful than the toilet training 🙂
Becc via #FYBF
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