shame vs. the electronics

Now that we are settled in our new area, we have plugged our older son into a gymnastics program nearby. This means on Saturdays the other kids and I sit for numerous hours watching him compete. I played soccer, so I wasn't aware that a child's sporting event could last four to five hours!! My parents were smart.

I know there are countless families that spend their Saturdays at gymnastics meets, but I don't see a lot of other moms wrestling their beloved, adopted, hyper-active sweetie in the bleachers...somehow they had the sense to say no to gymnastics.
But I am not willing to pull Noah out of gymnastics just because Jacob has a difficult time sitting still. Instead...we resort to electronics.

Here is where the shame comes in. Boy, do I ever feel guilt as I look around at the other four year olds coloring calmly in their coloring books, or sitting sweetly while eating their snacks. Nope, not in our world! Jacob is wiggling, bumping people, repeatedly asking for food, gum, my phone, the "weapster" until eventually I cave in...I put on his headphones, his body stops flailing and peace fills up the gym. I can finally watch the meet and see how Noah is doing. At least until the peace is ripped away by the realization that he has been hunched over staring at his leapster for over an hour!

So the hours crawl by as Jacob and I do our routine of "sit still for just five minutes and then you can play on ___________." He plays and plays and plays until I make him take a break. Then he wiggles and pokes his sister until I finally say, "ok! Please just sit still for five minutes, then you can play on ________"

I think I saw 4 out of the 6 events today. That is better than my average.
But we did it...we left the house at 6:30 this morning, entertained the people around us and we departed the gym witout any yelling. No meltdowns by kids or adults. So in my eyes, it was another successful day of gymnastics!