Summer Days

We woke up at home yesterday with the whole day ahead of us and nothing to do. Well, if you don't count laundry, cleaning bathrooms, or making beds. I got out of bed and went for a run. It was not too hot, which allowed me to get lost in my head. I love a morning when I have a good run like this. I think of all the things I WANT to do with my kids, but didn't really plan or prepare for. In my thoughts everyone is happy and cooperative and so thankful for the experiences,time, and effort I'm giving them! So, when I got home I thought why not do a park, picnic, and ice cream day? That takes little supplies or preperation. I pitched it to Lexi who was totally geeked! Adrienne..not so much. She's 12 and her friend down the street was luring her with talk of movies and gossip and snacks...my park with a toddler was no match. So after a quick shower, lunch packed in a basket, and round one of the Sofie fights for the day(this one was about getting dressed) we were off! Oh, not before round 2 of the Sofie fights to get her in the carseat. We arrived at the park and there was a half hour of fun to be had. Lexi helped Sof with all the equipment, and Sof quickly decided she didn't need help. A woman with her 3 boys infultrated our previously personal park. She was sweet but chatty, and proceeded to tell me all her boy's diagnoses. Didn't really need the briefing, could have diagnosed them myself. I'm a kindergarten teacher, I can see that stuff a mile away. The lure of the picnic lunch was too much for Lexi, so after enough begging and whining I gave in and let her eat before 11:00. I made the mistake of not bringing the same thing for everybody. I'm a kindergarten teacher, I never do this. I anticipate what the problem will be and I avoid it by only having one choice. Not this day. On this day I brought a banana for Sof and a nectarine for Lex. Of course Lexi wanted the banana. She took one bite of the nectarine and gave it to Sof. Sof was happy, she dug into the juicy nectarine with her little hands holding on. Perfect I think...and I give Lexi a chunk of Sof's banana. So begins battle #3 with Sof. By now the woman and 3 boys have left, but perfect mom, dad, baby, and 2 siblings cute as can be are there. I'm now sitting at the picnic table with a 2 year old screaming, crying, hitting, throwing food, etc...you get the picture. I resist the urge to explain that I am not a bad parent, but I just haven't had enough time with this child to make her deathly afraid of ever doing this in public again. Not to mention I should have known better then to mess with her food. Play resumes for awhile and I'm ready to go top this fun off with some ice cream. Battle #4, Sof of course doesn't want to leave because she does not know ice cream is way better than the park. Have you seen the baby scoops of ice cream these days? Plenty for a grown man. Sof eats painfully slow these days, and FREAKS OUT if you take her food away. Luckily Lexi was my partner in crime and would lure Sof into getting a drink at the drinking fountain while I quickly took huge spoonfuls and threw them away or shoved them in my mouth. We could have still been there right now if not for this technique! We made it home in time for nap, and in our memories it was a great day.