It’s October and like all the cool families on Instagram; we headed out for a fun-filled morning at the Pumpkin Patch. Well, our toddler didn’t get the fun memo…
The Reality of Taking a Toddler to the Pumpkin Patch
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Rowan is two. Every parent secretly thinks that their toddler is a unicorn and will somehow miss the terrible twos, or is that just me?
That Saturday at the pumpkin patch, the terrible twos hit and it was a disaster.
The pumpkin patch we go to is actually a Christmas Tree Farm. There’s a train, some fun trails, corn maze, and hayrides! What kid wouldn’t have fun? Rowan loved it last year and we thought it would be the same this year.
Yeah, no.
Rowan wanted to be held. And when he was running around, boy was he moody.
The sun was also too bright for photos – because let’s tell the truth, I want to take photos of everything and it all has to be Instagram worthy. Yeah, it’s a personal problem I’m working on.
I can’t believe that I’m posting this photo. Everything I know about photography screams at me not to post this photo. But this is me, showing you our real life fails. This should have been a cute photo,but the light and the two year old not caring.
We threatened to leave multiple times and never did. We need to work on following through with our parental threats.
Rowan was in tears and then I was in tears.
Outfit Details: Hat || Shirt || Flannel || Jeans || Shoes
Rowan’s Outfit: Jeans || Shoes
For me, the hardest thing about parenting a toddler is planning something fun and having it turn to crap. But hey, that’s mom life right?
To top it off, our pumpkin patch photo is a horrible cell phone photo.
Even though our trip to the pumpkin patch was filled with terrible two antics…I still would do it again. Life isn’t Instagram perfect and that’s okay. But to be honest, even if I was a parent of the 90’s, I would still be carrying around a nice film camera trying to get a perfect shot. And I’m okay with that because that’s who I am.
How was your trip to the pumpkin patch this year?
My kids are now 10 & 13 and they STILL take the fun out of everything. I think I just need to start going without them.
Haha life isn’t instagram picture perfect – you are so right! And there’s no telling how kids will react to a day out anywhere! Will be interested to see if he enjoys the pumpkin patch more over the next few years
He loved it last year…so I think, it was just an off day!! I still have a week or so to try and go to another one. Maybe we’ll try again!!
At least you got some smiles from what I can see in the photos! I love that visiting pumpkin patches is such a big thing in America, I wish we did it here in Aus too!
It was too bad the pumpkin patch was not the best day. He actually looked like he was concentrating on the tractor and enjoying it. Kids can be tough and sometimes they can be so sweet.
Even though you highlighted the mishaps, this is an adorable post with an adorable family. 🙂
Looks like you had a wonderful time.
I have spent the last 6 years toting one (or more!) toddlers to the pumpkin patch. It’s always chaotic, but I’m always glad we did it.
oh my goodness girl yes!!! toddlers make everything very interesting!
I love how this captures real life 🙂 It looks like the perfect day in spite of the toddler antics 🙂
That sounds about right. We took our two year old and he screamed most of the time. Super fun. But eventually they’ll be old enough to scoff at us when we suggest the pumpkin patch, right? 🙂
We use to visit the pumpkin patch a couple hours away from here every year. It was always such a wonderful experience. Lot’s of snacks were always necessary.
It sounds like you guys still had fun even if there were a few bumps along the way. I really enjoyed looking at the pictures, you never would have known it was a challenging day.
I feel you. I’ve been through those stages with my four kids and it’s really part of life as a parent. Those are still memories with the kids so it’s all worth it.
I love the pictures and love what you had to say! It’s so true, life isn’t really what we see on Instagram. We all deal with typical terrible twos and horrible lighting is just a reality of real life!
So sorry that was your experience this year! Such a bummer. I always keep fruit snacks handy for picture bribery. It can be so tough when they are tired though.
We had every snack and treat available…just was one of those days!
Your experience was a lot like mine.. yet it is so great that you can laugh about it.. life is too short to worry about perfection!
I love the pictures 🙂 Like you said, they are real life and life with a toddler is chaos! We haven’t even been to the pumpkin patch this year because it is sill in the upper 80’s here in Florida.
Aw bless you, thank you for being real with us and not just sharing your trip through rose tinted glasses. You are right life is not Instagram perfect but that is ok. Even though there might have been some tears I still think that you had beautiful photos x
THIS. Seriously! Every time I’ve tried to take the kids to a pumpkin patch, we’ve all gone home in tears.
Planning something really fun and having it turn bad – SO relate-able! You got some great pictures at the pumpkin patch though and it really looks like a fun time! I’m working on our pumpkin patch recap today!
We love going out to the patches!!! you’re right, life’s not all about getting the perfect Instagram photo, we just gotta get out there and enjoy the day. The photos will still spark memories of the day, blurry or not. Also, the farm is a pretty good place to just let the terrible twos run wild.
You got some great photos even if he was having a bad day. He’s a cutie!
Hahahaha I so remember these days! You will cherish the memories forever.
I always laugh when I see those perfect Instagram photos because oh man I know the reality behind them! I wish I could say it gets easier, but it doesn’t LOL!
HAHA, very refreshing. The world insists on looking perfect and easy. The pics came out great!
Such a cute post, with fun documentary photography. Haha that’s what I call my real life photos 🙂 my little guys is also 2 and we haven’t decided if we are going to attempt the pumpkin patch this week or not.
All your photos are really cute and sweet! Who cares about IG – it’s so inauthentic and these are actually authentic which is what blogging is all about. Never apologize for being real!! The trick to the pumpkin patch is to go right when they are fed, early in the morning and leave by the time they get hungry again or need a nap. LOL
Awww, you still got some cute pictures. I’m aiming for this weekend and with a moody 6 year old, headstrong 4 year old and a 1 year old, I’m not even sure why I’m trying!
Sometimes the quality of the photo doesn’t matter, it’s the fact that you have the memory captured.
Haha! I love how honest this was!! I have a four-year-old and a one-year-old and our experience was a lot like ours. Thanks so much for sharing!
Even though It didn’t go well as planned at least you guys enjoyed it and had fun. Going pumpkin picking really put the Halloween vibe in it.
Everyone has their off days, even our babies! It’s always frustrating when their off days coincide with the days we have fun stuff planned though! I’m learning to just roll with it and try to enjoy the good moments that are scattered in with the bad. You have an adorable family!
I don’t think we ever took the kids to a pumpkin patch at this age. I know they appreciated it more as they got older.
That is parenthood…things that seem like they should be picture perfect just aren’t. It is so frustrating to take the kids to somewhere that should be so fun for them and they seem to not get out of their own funk.
First of all, I really love these photos. Totally agreed, kids are unpredictable. They can flip their emotions within seconds. At least you guys enjoy the trip and had fun.
Toddlers definitely can make what is to be a fun experience a hard one. We love the pumpkin patch and try to give a plan of action of what is going to go down when we get in there so we are all on the same page.
I’ve been there for sure! It sounds like you came out with some positive memories though and beautiful pictures too!!
The candid “not Insta-worthy” shots that I hate in the moment are always the ones that I find to be the most funny years later. Definitely worth posting them—if it doesn’t give you complete anxiety. 😉
I love these pictures! I remember how special it was to take our toddler to a pumpkin patch. I think it was definitely more special for me than him at that age. It wasn’t until he was able to walk around and pick out his own pumpkin that they really loved it.
I hate when it’s too sunny for photos!! Haha I’m the same way. It’s a problem.
I totally agree. We took our 2 year old to a pumpkin patch on an actual farm (thinking he would have the best time ever) and he couldn’t care less. All he wanted was to sit on the bee ride. Didn’t show any care for the pumpkins or even picking one out. Maybe next year he’ll appreciate it more.
We went to the pumpkin patch on a school field trip this year and it was crazy time. haha fun but crazy. so many people.