Fun Day Out

I took the boys out on Thursday because I kept them in the house the whole time I was braiding my hair. We did everything. We went to the park, Stevi B's Pizza, to some stores and Barnes and Noble to play with the trains. What a fun and interesting day.

We had to go to the park early because it's just too hot down here in the South to play outside during the afternoon. But thankfully there were a lot of storm clouds to keep us cool because it was stilly trying to get hot that early. I put Devin, my 11-month-old, in the swing for the first time. I feel bad because I've never thought about doing it before. Guess I was distracted by trying to keep up with Dylan. As you can see from the smile, he loved it!

I've decided to come up with some playground rules for parents. Kids have there own rules, but I think it's time for parents to have some also.

Playground Rules for Parents:

1. Let me discipline my kid. If your kid is on a ride and my kid comes up and kind of bullies him out of the way, let me tell him "No" without you saying it's OK for him to do it. I appreciate you telling me that it's OK and no harm done. I only need to hear that one time to let me know that everything is cool, but if I still insist that my child get down and wait his turn, then that's the final decision. If it's something that they can share, thank you for suggesting that, but I'm not allowing my child who might be older to take over and push the little kid out of the way. He already does that at home to his little brother and needs to learn that that's not proper.



2. Don't encourage bad behavior no matter what is going on. Case in point: if my kid who, is 2-years-old, is running around crazy and getting in everyone's way, don't defend your 7-year-old after he knocks my kid down and my husband says something to him about it. What is that teaching your son? That it's OK to knock people down if they are getting in your way and are smaller than you? And then you yell at the kids parent who is trying to protect his smaller child? Wonder what that kid is going to grow up to be?



3. Keep moving. I hate it when kids stop at the end of the slide and just sit there when others want to go down too. Or hang out in the tunnels and won't move when other kids are trying to get by. Or a kid is climbing UP the slide when others want to go DOWN. I must admit that I allow Dylan to climb up the slide when no one is around, but once other kids come around, I make sure he goes down only. Everyone just needs to keep moving right along.

Ok. That's all I got so far. Please feel free to add your own comments about how parents should act at the playground. We need rules too.

Now, I know that my kids and I don't exactly look alike (different hair color and all). I expect questions and know I'll receive comments, but this one little girl (looked about 10 years old)threw me for a loop when we were leaving Barnes and Noble. I wasn't offended at all. I actually thought it was kind of funny.

Here's our conversation:

Girl: He's got crazy hair

Me: I know

Girl: Is he your son?

Me: Yes

Girl: But he has different skin

Me: I know...(thinking of how to explain)

Girl: What's wrong with his face?

Me: He has eczema

Girl: Why?

Me: Because he's allergic to things

Girl: What?

Me: Allergies are...(tryign to think of a way to explain it)

Girl: I know what it means. But to what?

Me: Oh, a lot of things

Girl: I'm allergic to ants and spiders. And if I get bitten I've gotta go to the hospital and blah blah blah

I don't even know how we ended the conversation, but she was a talker. I appreciated her innocence in asking. What gets me are rude adults. But I'll save that rant for another day.