Chicken Dance:The Redemption

Many of you may remember THIS post about Gabe's antics on the field during the Chicken Dance. Since that night, I have not been willing to let him have another chance. Drew and Caroline have done it a couple times, but Gabe has had to stay behind with me.

Last week, on a slow Monday night, Drew and Caroline got in line to Chicken Dance. Gabe insisted on going as well. I lectured him about staying with Ryan (the very nervous intern) as well as staying with Drew and Caroline. I told Drew he was in charge of Gabe, and I gave a heartfelt apology-in-advance to Ryan, who must have thought I had completely lost my mind.

I also had someone put a call out to Rob: "Gabe's going to chicken dance."

He showed up immediately.

Gabe insisted he could do it, and not run away. He was so tired of me pestering lecturing him, that he instructed ME to "go away!"

"Go away Momma!!"

"Go FAR away!!!"

Rob watched nervously from the warning track, while I anxiously snapped pictures from the stands. I was so nervous I shook. He did well. He was so excited. And he stayed with the group.

He was so excited he couldn't stop jumping.

He stayed near his brother,(Drew is in the orange shirt.) as instructed.

I am comfortable in declaring this Chicken Dance a success. Rob and I were extremely relieved, and we had three happy kids.



Now Caroline...Caroline, Caroline, Caroline. She seems to think the mascots are there solely for her entertainment. A far cry from the little girl who would scream in fear in the parking lot of the ballpark, and would refuse to go in.

She insists on dancing right next to the mascot. It doesn't matter if she gets separated from her brothers. Her rightful place is right next to either Diesel Dawg or Steamer.

Chicken Dance Redemption: Night Two

Things went equally as smoothly a couple nights later. They even mixed it up a little and decided to dance on the first base side, with Steamer. Gabe stayed right with his brother, and Caroline, as usual, was right next to the mascot.

I think we've mastered the Chicken Dance. Gabe now knows what is expected of him, and what is and (more importantly) what IS NOT acceptable behavior. I suspect the Egan kids will be doing a lot more Chicken Dancing from now until the end of the season.


**I would be remiss not to add: no interns were traumatized nor panic stricken either night.