The Greatest Show on Earth - NOT

We had the tickets, the grandparents, and visions of getting to watch an elephant disappear as I took the three big boys to the Circus today. We get there, walk forever, find our seats as the National Anthem is being played. With that, the lights dim, the music blares, fairies come from the ceiling and the master of ceremonies comes to center ring. And within the first two minutes, no, the first 30 seconds, Blake FREAKS OUT. He starts screaming that he is scared. I try to talk him off the ledge. But as I pull him into my lap, I can acutally feel him shaking and his heart racing. Not wanting him to grow up hating the circus, clowns, and elephants - I ask Brantley a quick "are you scared? Response = NO, so I tell my parents that we are bailing out. Flush $30 bucks per seat down the toilet. I take Blake out and he calms down. I call Jeff and he drives downtown and picks him up so we (me, Brantley, Jeffrey and other family memebers) can enjoy the rest. So, I spend the first half of the circus sitting on park bench outside the Ice Palace. sigh. I walk all the way back in, find my seat again, check on Brantley and Jeffrey (Who are enthralled with the whole thing) and with that, they bring up the lights and take a break! Fantastic. I did get to enjoy the second half. As it starts, Brantley tells me that he is ready to go - and I tell him NO (he wasn't scared, just missed Blake) - so he settles in and we watch the rest. I am sure for some it is the Greatest Show on Earth - for me is just felt like the most expensive, scary, stressful show on earth. I doubt I will go back with the littler ones any time soon - say - in the next five years or so!