This weekend I took on the task of going to Costco with Linnea.  I noticed as I was driving along in the heavy traffic on the way there, that my grip on the steering wheel was tightening and my heart was beating a little faster than usual.  In my head I was playing out all the scenarios I could think of involving me and a crying baby in the middle of the store.  People staring and gawking and shaking their heads saying "shut that kid up".  Me frantically trying to shhh and bounce, while spit-up came spewing out of her mouth all over the floor.  I'm stuck in the middle of a long line of people with overflowing baskets....and the person in front of me is trying to use a coupon that doesn't work and she only has a VISA credit card, which Costco doesn't accept....

I pull the car into the parking lot, planning a spot good for a quick get-away.  As I'm carrying Linnea in her carseat and feeling my shaking legs, I see a woman coming out of the store.  She's totally cool headed, like she's practically by herself, BUT she's got a baske full of stuff, two boys that look 3 and 4 years old tugging on the cart, and a baby in a baby sling.  What?  People do this with more than one?  Inconceivable.  I head to the desk to make a return of a shirt that was too small, and luckily there are only 3 people ahead of me.  Linnea is quiet "for now" I think, and I slowly put her into a gentle rocking motion.  She's totally silent.  She sucks on her pacifier like a good little girl.  Still, I play out the worst scenarios I can think of - just in case.

This is obvoiusly something I'm going to have to get over.  I can't go around for the rest of Linnea's childhood a nervous wreck - especially if she's going to continue being so good.  Yes, GOOD.  That's what I said.  For the entire trip to Costco, she slept in her carseat as I pushed her around in the cart.  We even stopped by Fred Meyer on the way home and loaded a full cart with groceries, and she slept.  Quiet as a mouse.  Then, we went to a small party with 7 other couples and their babies (a reunion with our Bradley Method class), and aside from a brief period of crying, she was a little princess.  She laid on her back in a little play mat with dangling toys for almost 30 minutes!  Fully awake and just looking at people's knees, the furniture, and the other babies.  You can even see in the video below that she's got total self-composure until she realizes shes being squished from both sides.  As an aside, I had no idea that 6 babies on a couch would be so adorable.

So far, she obvoiusly doesn't warrant the clammy hands and racing heartbeat I get before embarking into a public place indoors.  It will happen, however, I know it will.  One day I'll be in an enclosed area with no quick getaway and I'll have a crying baby on my hands.  Everyone will be staring.  It is going to happen and I'm going to have to deal.  I bet I'll even live to tell about it.    

Reunion for Bradley Method Class from Heather Alvis on Vimeo.