You never know what you’re going to see in Tennessee

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A few days ago, the Savings in Seconds fam was driving around trying to decide where to head for dinner.  We were all a little bit crabby and fussy from a long day together.  I got a call from my mother-in-law who wanted to tell me about the nephew who is headed off to college this fall. Hearing the phone ring is like the neighborhood all-dogs alert if a car alarm goes off.  My kids start clamoring for my attention as soon as they hear the ringtone.  This is my life on pretty much any occasion I need to be on the phone:




Somehow the road led to Cracker Barrel and we decided to stop off. This is what we saw:
Something you might not expect to see....savingsinseconds.com You never know what you’re going to see in Tennessee. You might see a guy riding a lawnmower down the interstate, or perhaps someone wearing a sumo wrestler outfit in the church parking lot.  The Peanutmobile made us all stop and gawk for a few minutes.  It was just the thing we needed in order to get out of the funk.  You know, sometimes it just takes the unexpected to break the cycle of grump.    It’s so tempting to raise my voice and yell back when my son throws a tantrum.  It also kind of feels good in the moment, but it rarely helps things in the long run.  Instead, it escalates the behavior so that the kids feel that they need to yell to be heard.  After all, if mom loses control then they can, too.

If this is happening to you on the summer-off journey, try doing something completely  unexpected to throw your kids off.  Just when they think you are going to give them the Evil Eye, turn and make a funny face instead.  When you feel like yelling, make your voice high-pitch and squeaky like The Chipmunks.  Your kids will be caught off guard and won’t know how else to react except laugh!  And probably, that’s just what you need.

(PS. This works in other situations, too!  If you’re a teacher, try it sometime!)

 

 

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Comments

  1. Great idea! I will have to try that next time I want to yell…when my daughter and I get in a funk like that , I try to get us out of the house – park, store, anything to change up the environment!

  2. I saw some interesting things when I was in Nashville this past May too :).

  3. That looks so funny!

  4. I wish we had something out of the ordinary to see everyday!

  5. C’mon, Dede. You know that’s your family car. No need to be ashamed, we’re all friends here.

  6. LOL, how funny that you crossed paths with the peanutmobile!

  7. Melissa E says

    A healthy way to react in such situations =)

  8. Sherry Compton says

    Good point. You never know what you might see or find by changing your routine. From different houses to a peanut mobile, new sites can help break everyone out if a grumpy mood.

  9. That peanut ruck is some sight for sure–but that’s the beauty of summer–making memories and sharing laughs!!! thanks for the reminder 🙂

  10. That is so cool! I live in a smallish beach town and we recently had a “cowboy” riding a horse all over. You just never know!

  11. I’ve never seen the peanutmobile. How fun and exicting!

  12. This is such a great idea. I am going to try today. My kids seem to be pushing all my buttons this summer!

  13. Yelling doesn’t always stop the problem anyway. It’s great to find other strategies to diffuse the situation. Sounds like you ended up with a great day.

  14. That peanut mobile is awesome! It definitely would have brought our family out of the funk too! How fun!

  15. That is too funny. I didn’t even know that there was a peanut mobile.

  16. It is funny you should mention about teachers. I used to be a teacher, and I would do things to catch them off guard and relieve tension in the room – definitely works!

  17. How much fun! I would have chased that truck down! I do love peanuts!

    I’m always trying to throw my kids off and this is a great reminder!

  18. Jenna Wood says

    A giant Peanut Car?! I’m assuming it runs on peanut oil, how clever. It sounds like there is never a dull moment in Tennessee!

    • Jenna, I feel really excited that I saw this. I’ve been jealous of your Wienermobile experience ever since I read your post!

  19. Hilarious – I am glad your family had the fun meet the giant peanut

  20. I hope you are now going to do a detailed post on the Peanut mobile…I want to know all. I agree about the phone situation too!

  21. I think seeing the Peanut Mobile would make for such an exciting day! Up here in Montana it’ thing like oh. cows in the middle of the road. Or a moose…what can I say

  22. LOL – I love the South! Our oldest grand son lives in TN. I’ll have to keep my eyes peeled that next time we go and visit!

  23. Teresa McCluskey says

    I think this is so cool! I will try this with the kids I watch!

  24. I’m sure I would have reacted the same way you did with that peanut mobile! Ha! Totally original!

  25. scarlett mills says

    haha that’s so cool!

  26. Amy Wright says

    That peanut vehicle is awesome! I would have to take a picture too!

  27. Don’t forget to use that handy little camera to capture the unforeseen images!

  28. That peanut vehicle is just so awesome!

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