So, I finally sat down to do this blog thing. After 3 years and 4 months of joining the club they call motherhood, I decided that I should throw down some of the most interesting things I have seen or done in the last few years with my kids, plus, a few of my friends kept nagging me about starting a blog. Hopefully people besides them will read it.
Before becoming a mom, I just loved having fun in the city…now with kids, much has changed, but I find that there are so many different ways to still have a good time and enjoy the city you live in…for me, it’s Oakland, CA. Motherhood does not equal the end…although, as most of you Moms know, it certainly brings forth a HUGE change in the definition of “fun”.
I have two little ones. A little boy who just turned 3 a few days ago, and a little girl who is almost 16 months. I have to say, the first year of having kids this close in age was extremely difficult, but now it’s, as we say it Oakland, “hella” fun. Don’t get me wrong, there are days when I’m seriously contemplating scotch taping signs on their shirts saying “FREE” and putting them outside on the curb, but those moments of craziness usually curb pretty quickly.
I thought I’d throw down some really fun things we have been doing since my kid’s preschool went on summer break. A few days ago I took them to Children’s Fairyland just to get them out of the house. You know that lull time between 3-5 where you are just running out of energy and the witching hour is quickly approaching?? My daughter had received a 12 pass gift card for her first birthday and I have to say, it was the best present that she received. I threw them both in the car, armed with a Diego Sippy Cup filled with some orange juice, string cheese and raisins stuffed in my purse, and an extra diaper and shorts (3 year old is potty trained, but tends to have a few accidents when he’s fired up). It was the perfect way to end an extremely long day. The kids hung out, said hi to the donkeys, rode a few rides, played in sand, and ended the day watching a great puppet show.
Then, after all the fun was done, the Fairy Land people decided to open one exit…through the gift shop. A brilliant marketing scheme, but for me, a nightmare. We were approaching a 4:30 meltdown, and right there, in the middle of the gift shop, my usually calm and sensible 3 year old “Linda Blair-ed” me. I’m talking about full on floor rolling, tears spurting out mixing with crying drool, speaking in tongues…I mean the full package. I actually found myself laughing as I was walking/dragging myself out of the store, trying to figure out who the genius was behind this exit strategy. I mean, for a long 7 minutes there, I was “that mom”. And I know you all know what I’m talking about.
In the car I told him how you really can’t always get what you want…and I just happened to have my rolling Stones Greatest Hits CD sitting in my car. And, I had Mick tell my son the truth about life…and it worked. He stopped crying.
Later.
