El Desfile de los Ninos
updated: Aug 05, 2012, 7:35 PM

By Ms Abomb

OK, so I am really glad that I did not choose journalism as a career, because I am much too sensitive to deal with negative comments from readers all the time. But as my good friend Lauren Bray told me, "Don't let the haters get you down!" So I'm back with a report on my experience as a parent participant in the Fiesta Children's Parade (El Desfile De Los Ninos).

The Children's Parade always caps the end of a busy week of Fiesta events, which involves staying up way past my bedtime*. My husband and I are always dragging to get ourselves there so that our daughter can sit in her stroller and wonder why everyone is cheering and waving at her. At least this year she stayed awake the whole time! Somehow I have slept through my alarm 2 years in a row the morning of this parade. This year I was running so late I did not have time to get coffee, which is a recipe for a disaster. AND it was raining. But did I give up? No way!

This year I co-coordinated my PEP group's participation in the parade. We all spent hours making decorations for strollers and wagons and coming up with adorable costumes for our little ones. It was so much fun to see them all decked out in their Fiesta finest and covered in confetti! I really appreciated the reduced wait time this year, because 18 month-olds have a limited good mood window. We avoided any major meltdowns as far as I know, so I consider that a success.

Walking in the parade is really a fun experience, probably more fun for me than for my daughter at her age. The clouds parted and the sun started shining just as the parade kicked off. Even though I was wet, tired, and in severe caffeine withdrawal, the spirit of Fiesta carried me through. Even after my daughter dropped her snack on the route, I had her pacifier for just such an emergency and a crisis was averted. The excitement of the participants and the cheers of the spectators lifted our spirits and reminded us what Fiesta is all about this year...Viva La Familia!

The walk back to the car was not so magical, but that is another story altogether...

I must take this opportunity to add a shameless plug for PEP (Postpartum Education for Parents). We are so lucky to have this organization in Santa Barbara to support new parents in the craziness that is caring for tiny humans. I honestly don't know how I would have made it through those first months without the support of other new moms and dads to assure me I was not losing my mind and that others were experiencing the same things. And now I have a network of moms to call on through each stage of my daughter's development, not to mention some amazing friends! I love my fellow PEP mamas and dads (and babies)!

*For the record, since someone inquired after my last report about how much alcohol I had consumed, I was NOT hung over because I don't drink. I just usually go to bed early because I have a toddler and a full time job!

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