Monday, March 19

After spending an afternoon (4-6:30) Chuck E. Cheese I've come to the conclusion it was invented by a minion of Satan. It's parent's hell. Germ factory, standing room only, hundreds of children and adults, children who don't share, children that throw temper tantrums, parents who don't share, parents that throw temper tantrums, toddlers going up the wrong way on the slide, parents who don't watch their toddlers, and indifferent employees.

But the child had a great time... "The best birthday party ever!!"

11 comments:

sandy l said...

I've taken my kids to Chuck E. Cheese's a couple of times. My daughter is terrified of the Chuck E. character. When he comes out to "play," she is clutching my hand and wanting to go home. My oldest is great at the games. He always has a good time. My second is terrible at the games and always has a terrible time.

I've decided that Chuck E. Cheese is basically a money pit and try to avoid it at all costs. However, having said that, if it comes down to having screaming kids in my house for a party or at the moneypit, it will be at the moneypit.

Tara Marie said...

Sandy... I've decided that Chuck E. Cheese is basically a money pit and try to avoid it at all costs. However, having said that, if it comes down to having screaming kids in my house for a party or at the moneypit, it will be at the moneypit. This is pretty much what the Birthday Mom said yesterday--LOL

Jenster said...

I always hated Chuck E. Cheese birthday parties. I did, however, enjoying taking my kids there when they were a tad bit older and it wasn't so crowded. I could sit and read with one eye and keep an eye on them with another. If it was too crowded, though - forget about it.

So glad those days are over...

Jill Monroe said...

I hear you on the germ factory. Whenever I leave there I feel covered.

Once, before I had kids, I took my nephew there. He "lost' his socks in the ballpit. I had to crawl inside and scoured looking for those socks.

Now that I have kids of my own, I'd just get new ones. I'm scared of what might be at the bottom of those pits.

Tara Marie said...

Jen, we were there Thursday and I could see being able to go on a quiet afternoon and sit and read while he plays, but the weekends and birthday parties are the worst.

Jill, do you get new kids or new socks? :P Actually I have to say I'm thankful ours doesn't have a ball pit. But I can't imagine how dirty the tube thing they crawl through is, honestly can an adult actually fit up there to clean it--yuck.

Rosie said...

The dreaded words on the birthday invites..."meet at Chuck E. Cheese". Not only birthday parties but team parties. Sometimes it seemed liked we were there every other week. Nope don't miss it.

The best part of your post though was the tag: hell. Very aptly put.

meljean brook said...

I'm totally going to set my next book in Chuck E. Cheese's ... it IS hell.

I've told my husband that no matter how much our daughter pleads and screams and begs, we will NEVER have a b-day party there. Luckily, hers falls in the summer so we have other out-of-house options, like local parks.

However, if the aunties feel sorry enough for her and volunteer to take her, I'll let her go.

Tara Marie said...

Rosie, Sometimes it seemed liked we were there every other week. OMG, that truly is Hell :D

Meljean, Junior's birthday is in August and so we also totally avoid the CEC nightmare. We're thought about the park, because it's a lot of fun, but August in NY can be a humid nightmare. We've also done a pool party at home, but honestly I don't think I have the patience for that many kids running through the house.

I'm totally going to set my next book in Chuck E. Cheese's ... it IS hell. It really is hell, I know people who bring their kids on a regular basis because they love the place, I have to think they've already sold their souls...

Robin said...

Tara, I had to laugh, albeit sympathetically, to the Chuck E. Cheese comment. My son is autistic and loves what he calls "the Rat". He is however deathly afraid of the animated figures on the stage. I have to admit they are creepy, the way their heads turn and eyelids move. And what IS that purple thing anyway? Cousin It's cousin? Anyway whoever said it was a germ factory is right. Consider this http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/baltimore_county/bal-md.co.digest10mar10,0,4686753.story?track=rss. EWW! Have a great day!

Tara Marie said...

Robin, thankfully, we only have "The Rat". This was our first trip there that my son would get anywhere near it.

Tara Marie said...

Robin, PS--thanks for the link, it goes very nicely with the KFC in NYC infested with rats--yuck, yuck and double yuck.