I got a ticket last week.
For speeding and an expired license.
My license has only been expired since July… um yeah.
I first discovered the expiration at Hot Hubby’s kick a&$ bday party over at the Brea Improv in January. Then promptly forgot about it. I am in charge of keeping multiple humans alive, so getting it renewed just kept getting added to the forgotten list. Then I got pulled over and it became priority #1. Can you believe the officer didn’t give me a warning for the expired license?? I mean, I’m preggers (which of course I mentioned to him) with 3 kiddos in the minivan AND there was an adorable birthday smash cake I made in the passenger seat.
I won’t get into the pathetic details, but there were tears involved. A lot. Along with explanations to my little humans that went something like this, “I’m not crying because police men are bad… this is called a license… you need it to drive a car… police men protect us from bad guys… no, mommy isn’t a bad guy… mommy was driving too fast… even though he doesn’t seem nice you should still find one if you’re lost.” There were about a million dozen similar responses given while I’m sobbing. Full-on-sobbing.
Oh well. Time to renew my license.
I arrived at the DMV one hour before opening, at 7am, with the children in tow and armed with snacks (non-healthy ones to increase threat levels). We ended up being about the 10th person in line. Two hours and 31 dollars later I have a new picture and unfortunately a new weight on my current license. I was even complimented multiple times for my well behaved children… which totally makes up for my last trip to Jo-Ann’s when my children may have been possessed.
On the way out I felt like giving the waiting line high fives. Like in a sports movie when the underdog just won the Big Race. Yeah, I survived and thrived at the DMV with 3 kiddos AND I’m pregnant! Woo hoo! Good game. I should get a prize or at least a raffle ticket for the chance at a big prize. Instead I remind myself it’s just another day in the life of a Mama! This time I came out on top and I’m going to savor it. Because heaven knows next time I could be that “poor pregnant lady wearing two different shoes with snot all over her shoulders smelling like poo with 3 screaming children.” And there is that ticket I’m still waiting for in the mail. Don’t you just love that they don’t tell you the total? It comes a month later in the mail so you can cry about it all over again.
On the way home went to the post office to drop off some Lid orders and left the kiddos in the car. Is that super bad… or just kinda bad? It’s cold and misty out so its not like it’s a hot day, they stayed buckled in their car seats and the car was locked. I was inside for exactly 3 minutes. But I feel kinda guilty.
At least I didn’t get a ticket.
Side Note:
If you live in Orange County (or are willing to travel here), my fellow OC Family blogger is giving away a week at science camp. It’s open to kiddos age 5-preteens who are obsessed with science and it’s worth $300. Check out all the details to win a week a science camp here!
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Marilyn says
Did you play the ” I know an police officer card?” Sometimes that does help. Just took Dean to the DMV to get his permit and he thought that it was the longest wait ever and he is 15 armed with an iTouch. I think a mother of the year award should be waiting for you on Mother’s Day.
Eli's Lids says
Blarg! I never thought of it! In between sobbing like a baby, if I mentioned your hubby he may have gotten written up for having a completely neurotic friend!
I can’t believe Dean is driving!!
Steve Bush says
That’s a harrowing tale. Not the one about getting pulled over. The one about being at the DMV for 2.5 hours… (Long Beach DMV on Willow and 405 is surprisingly quiet, clean and quick should you ever run afoul of the law again).
Eli's Lids says
Great tip!! Hope the science camp giveaway was a success!!
jaime says
Oh man!! You totally should have gotten an award!! I would have been crying too.
Eli's Lids says
Totally!! Like free car registration next year.
Crystal Anderson says
Laugh-out-loud hilarious! I can relate – I recently got a ticket for holding my cell phone while driving. I had to explain to my kids the importance of following the rules & that sometimes even mommies make mistakes. Not my finest moment!
Eli's Lids says
Ug, for the cell phone ticket. I have one of those plug in earpieces (because I’m convinced the other ones give brain cancer… unfounded, I know but whatever) and fumbling to get it plugged in is way more dangerous than just holding it to my ear. I think the police are now out in force because the state needs $$. Which I totally get. But I wish they would just station in front of schools and get everyone going over the limit around the kiddos. They would make a killing and people might actually slow down near walking children.
Crystal Anderson says
Agreed!!!!!
Hanna says
lol….so funny. I can relate to you when I took the boys to the DMV. Had to bust out all the goodies and 40 minutes later felt like I was on top of the world. 😛
Eli's Lids says
You have it way worse! Two busy (yet adorable) boys and they are younger than mine! Way to go mom 🙂
Rachael says
Good job, mama!! 🙂
Eli's Lids says
Another day in the life… lol!
Praying for your travel plans!
Stephanie says
Don’t feel so bad about leaving the kids in the car. I once saw a mom leave her 2 kids (one was an infant, the other about 5) in the car WITH THE MOTOR RUNNING and door half open while she disappeared for 10 minutes into a sandwich shop. Seriously, what if 5 year old put the car in reverse? Or even worse what if some crazy person just got in and drove off?
Eli's Lids says
That’s pretty bad!! I still feel a little funny about leaving them in there for the short time I did (it really was 3 minutes, I timed it). But 3 minute trip would have turned into a 15 minute trip along with the new grey hairs that would have sprouted. They really are good kids but the post office brings out the mischief in them!
Angela @ Nine More Months says
Wow! The DMV is not somewhere I would venture with 1 kid, let alone 3 of them! I would have totally high-fived you.