Since having a baby in January I really haven’t had much alone time with my two older kids. I have felt guilty that so much of my focus has been on the baby. I said I would find time over the summer. Then summer came and went. School and sports have started and I felt like I needed more time with them. They are only young for so long.
So when the day came that they had off from school, I had off from work, and the baby could still go to daycare I took the chance to spend the day with my two oldest.
Yes, I could have spent the day getting errands done, cleaning the house, or checking something off my endless to do list. However, I did none of those things. Instead I put the wagon in the trunk, threw some snacks and water bottles in the bag and drove the hour to Sesame Place with my two boys chatting in the back for the whole drive about what characters they would see and what rides they would go on.
It was a totally different experience than the life I have been living the last 9 months. No diaper bag, or worrying about naps. Just me and my boys watching shows, meeting characters, and riding rides. Somewhere in the last year they have grown up. They weren’t crying because the ride had a line, or because I said no to buying the $40 bubble wand. They were happy just to be there together. Sometimes we as parents forget the thing our kids want most, and usually the thing they will never ask for is our undivided attention.
We had a great day and it didn’t need to cost me a fortune. I picked a place where we had season passes, a place I could bring my own food, and that was an easy car ride. Our kids don’t need a lot (even though they may ask for a lot), they just need us and some fun (and maybe a few snacks!).
“Today we will live in the moment, unless its unpleasant in which case me will eat cookies”- Cookie Monster
