Parenting in Public

The Social Security Administration lists the name Jackson at No. 42, Wyatt  at No. 84 and Maxwell (Maxwell was the first name even close to Maxfield) at No. 134 and just Max at No. 148 of top boy names for the 2000s decade. The SSA lists the name Henry at No. 102.

Last weekend Lauren, Max, Wyatt, Jackson and myself went to a Camden River Sharks minor league baseball game with some friends of ours, including their 9-year -old son Henry (who is also my Godson). The game was not sold out and our two families spread out over two rows of seats along the third base line. As is typical for any type of event like this there is always some type of parenting in public (PIP) that involves the repetitive use of the childrens' names and at an above-normal volume.

"Max, let those people through."

"Max do you have to go to the bathroom?"

"Max, do you want a hot dog or a burger? Max? Max? Hot dog or burger? Max are you listening?"

"Max, stop hitting your brother."

"Max do you have to go to the bathroom?"

"Max, sit down so the people behind you can see."

"Max do you need to use the bathroom now?"

"Max, stop... feet...the chair... front of you." You know because sometimes as a parent you just cannot form a proper sentence.

"Max, can you please keep an eye on your brother."

"Max, I am going to the bathroom, do you need to go?"

It was the bottom of the third inning, I was leaning back to ask my friend in the row behind us a question when I heard the woman in the row in front of me say "Max, you really need to stop doing that."

 I snapped my head around. First I wanted to see what Max was doing that required a total stranger to correct him and second, to see who was the person that was correcting my kid. Max was sitting quietly eating his fruit snacks. I realized that the lady in front of me was talking to a 4-year-old little boy sitting beside her also named Max. I chatted with the lady and her son for a minute or two and we chuckled at the name coincidence. I mean if the kids were named Mike, or Jim, or Jacob, or Matthew I would get it. But two kids named Max so close together was weird and cool. I then felt sorry for the little boy, figuring he probably was freaked out thinking that the guy behind him kept asking him if he had to go to the bathroom.

I told my friend behind me that there were two kids named Max. He and his wife laughed. They just had the same kind of conversation with people in the row behind them who also had a son Henry.

The next day, my family was at a birthday party for one of Max's friends. The adults at the party consisted of a mix of parents of kids from different aspects of the birthday boy's life, like from swimming or school or neighbors. All of the parents kind of knew each other or knew of one another but rarely interacted with each outside the common bonds of the birthday boy and his family. It is these types of parties where people may or may not be introduced with an indicator of where they are from. A point of reference for each other in the social situation. The point of reference that provides a bit of security during conversations, you don't feel like you are talking to strangers. This point of reference sometimes becomes a last name. Like "Bill, this is Diane Fromthepool. Diane this is Bill FromLittleLeague." Or "Lauren this Alexa, Christian'sMom. Alexa this is Lauren, Wyatt'sMom."

We all chatted in the kitchen as the kids ran around playing. I positioned myself in a perfect spot in the kitchen, near the food and drinks, with a view of  the TV (Phillies game) in the family room to my right, and to my left a view of the dining room table (kids eating).

To my right, with a view of the family room was Diane Fromthepool. To my left was Lauren, Amy Fromaroundthestreet, and Janine Afamilyfriend. The host and her husband fluttered in an out preparing food and what not. At some point I was introduced to Janine's 4-year-old son, Nicholas. I made a mental note that Diane's son was also named Nick or Nicholas. Nicholas is the 14th spot the SSA top names for the 2000s which makes it more common for there to be a couple of Nicks together at the same party. We all made small talk trying to get to know one another with out embarrassing ourselves, or in my case embarrassing my wife.

Janine's Nick, somewhat shy and not familiar with most of the other kids, needed the security of his mom in the social setting and hung out in the kitchen for a while. He eventually discovered that there was a dog in the family room and he went in to pet and play with the dog. At some point Diane's Nick also went into the family room to play with the dog. There was a commotion, laughing followed by growling, followed by a small ruckus.

Diane had the best view of the situation. Her eyes went wide. She tried to say something but sometimes as a parent you just cannot form a proper sentence and she hollered, "Nick! Come!"

To my right Janine's jaw dropped and her head snapped around toward Diane. I am sure first to see what her Nick was doing that required a total stranger to correct her kid and second to see who it was  that was correcting her kid. The kitchen fell silent. There was an awkward moment. Janine's face was full of shock and surprise. Diane turned toward the rest of us shaking her head in that way a parent does to silently communicate to other parent's What can you do? Diane saw the look on Janine's face and realized that Janine thought Diane was barking at her kid. Diane's face turned red as she tried to explain she was yelling at her Nick.

The two Nicks entered the kitchen. The older one with his head down knowing he was in trouble, the younger one seeking the security of his mom because some strange lady was yelling at him.

Parenting in Public is often very entertaining. I laughed for a good five minutes.