Socially Awkward

Last Friday Derek was out of town so I decided to take Braedon to the weekly movie night at Borders for kids ages 2-5.  We have taken Braedon to this about 2 times in the past and he will sit still until his popcorn runs out.  It’s actually a pretty cute little set up.  Each week they play a kids movie, or short film of some sort, and have popcorn and sometimes warm cocoa for the little ones.  Braedon will usually sit on our lap, eat his popcorn and then once he is finished he will get up and wonder around the bookstore.  Not this time.

Things started out as they usually do.  We sat down, Braedon got his popcorn and Pete’s a Pizza came on the TV.  Braedon sat on my lap, ate his popcorn and laughed hysterically on and off.  Then this is where things started to get a little entertaining…

Braedon hops off my lap with popcorn in hand and heads over to the carpeted theater style stair seating where most of the older (3 and 4 year olds)kids sit.  It was pretty crowded but he decided he was going to sit down next to this little boy who was about 3 or 4.  Not before walking right up to him, staring at him, waving with his hand right in front of his face, and then wiggling his little booty to make room for himself.  The reaction on the little boy’s face was priceless as he looked a little freaked out and tried to scoot as far away from Braedon as he could.  Which then Braedon would just scoot closer.  I was trying so hard not to bust up laughing as I have never seen Braedon do this with other kids before.  I didn’t know if I should intercept and say something or just keep watching.  So, I just kept watching.  Braedon sat there for awhile shoving popcorn in his face until he got bored in that spot.  He then set out to look for his next victim.  A little girl of about the same age as the boy sitting on the step above.  Braedon turned around, crawled up the step, sat down next to this little girl, patted her on the shoulder a few times, which then caused her to give the same reaction as the boy.  She scooted…Braedon scooted.  Braedon started chowing down on his popcorn again and one of his pieces ended up falling into the little girl’s snow boot.  I saw this happen and started thinking to myself, “Braedon, just leave it be….you have more popcorn in your cup….”  But no, Braedon can’t let a morsel of food be left unconsumed so he went for it.  He knew it had fallen into the girls boot so he looked at her, looked at her boot, looked at her again and then went for it.  He put his hand down her boot to try to find the popcorn, which freaked the little girl out even more.  I stepped in at this point.  

I have decided that Braedon needs to be around more kids more often.  We have started taking him to the gym again and so he is going to daycare 2 days a week, which he isn’t crazy about but I think it is good for him.  Right now, I just have to accept the fact that he is the socially awkward kid that all the other kids’ think is a little weird.  They make think he is a little weird but I think he is awesome and a total crack up.

*Derek is just trying to convince me that it is all part of growing up  and is not weird, although funny.