We had a BBQ with some friends, and took off to watch the fireworks from the lawn of the church near the meadow where they have the local "Fair." Going into the Fair, and sitting on the banks of the pond where they shoot the fireworks is something we always used to do. But, the crowds have got so big, it takes forever to get out of there and, honestly, since they allow this horrible band to play all DURING the fireworks (crappy renditions of old Journey songs and Bruce Springsteen stuff, with some Boston thrown in for bad measure) I can't sit too close any more.
So, we sit on the lawn of the church about 1 or 2 blocks from the meadow. We get in and out quickly. The show was a little shorter than usual, but as most of the villages are out of money, they did a GREAT job. It was a beautiful firework show. This town always puts on a great one.
Sadly, again, the people we were going to go with "couldn't&quo t; because their 3 year old "didn't get a nap." I mean, WTF? These people don't do ANYTHING that might interrupt this kid's nap or sleep schedule, and it irritates the crap outta me. Kids miss naps! The Fourth of July and good fireworks are something every child should experience and he has NEVER seen fireworks, with one exception in his life, because "It's late, he'll get crabby." UG, there are ways to deal with crabby toddlers other than to MISS exciting opportunities for FUN!
We took our kids to see fireworks every single year, even when our oldest was only 3 weeks old. If toddlers are "getting crabby" (and really, usually the fireworks are so interesting they will be distracted by them) you sit the kid in your lap or in the stroller, tell them they may NOT cry and whine and....they do what you say. Or they go to sleep. At least that's how its always worked in our house. We've NEVER missed a social event because one of my kids had a written-in-stone bedtime or because "she missed her nap and will be crabby." *SIGH* My kids were not angels by a long shot, but we had some basic control over them. I'd no sooner let one of them ruin someone's holiday than I'd....change a diaper in the dining room...during dinner. I'm gonna shut up now.
Off soap box.