Trio Outing

When today’s play date got cancelled my first inclination was to hit up Lifetime, per usual, and get a good workout in. As Drew’s tears increased with the cancellation of the play date, I realized Lifetime’s Kids Club just wasn’t going to cut it. So next I considered harassing a variety of different people for alternate play dates. Instead I decided to do the unthinkable, plan a fun day as the Trio.

With school, activities, gym and errands, it has been quite some time since our Trio has had a day of unstructured fun. Options of Chuck E. Cheese (not normally my most favorite of places but it seemed like the best way to dry those eyes), our new library and kids museums were all thrown out there. Drew, the master of the Trio, opted for our new library that we had yet to explore. In our old location we frequented the library quite often.

We spent the morning reading books, playing on the computer, doing an art project and putting together puzzles. And although this library isn’t nearly as nice as our old one, it was more confining which worked well for a 21 month old with ants in her pants and a little boy that wanted to read fifty stories. I managed to make it through the experience minimally overwhelmed. Despite skipping the gym, I was invigorated.

Since the sun was shining and there was an abundance of squeals coming from the park, we decided to play outside. Ironically I ran into the nanny who was the inspiration from a previous blog. And something about seeing her with the kids at the park, made me realize that it wasn’t her first time here. At first I started to feel judgmental about how this mom, who has no job keeping her away from her kids on the beautiful day at this beautiful park, was missing her kids at the park. I then started realizing that I’m not that much better. I may not pay a nanny to run my kids around and engage with them. But I often find ways; gym, errands, classes, etc, to keep us busy so that we aren’t having fun, open days.

I can try and defend myself by saying that we all do better with a structured day. Although that is true, I’m not sure that’s why we don’t have more free play. There’s something about a completely unstructured day that gives me panic. Maybe its because after the euphoric feeling at the library and park, I was completely crazed at the restaurant to follow. Maybe in some way I’m trying to reduce instances where I may feel completely out of control by controlling our day. Or maybe I just don’t have the skills to depend strictly on myself for engaging with the kids. I love going places and doing things that facilitate play and engagement but I think I’m lacking when it comes to initiating it.

Whatever the reason is, the summer is ahead. We’ll have lots more opportunities for days like these. And as my kids get older, this phenomenon will become less and less. I’m going to try to do everything I can to perpetuate engagements like these. Despite it not being the easiest way to spend a day, it’s by far the most rewarding.