My Best Time

Last night, after dinner, Zoe looked at me with big eyes and said, "Mommy, going to the park right now would make my heart happy."  Those big eyes are my kryptonite and she knows it.

We got the jogging stroller ready, got her snacks, some water for both of us, my keys, my cell phone and some jackets.  It's always a production!

We quickly ran to the potty before we left because the park is actually an elementary school.  There are no potties there.

Her favorite thing to do at the park is play on the swings and go down the blue slide.  Last night there were a couple boys just her age playing at the park.  They pretended to be dragons and bats together while Zoe cheered them on.  Then they all found sticks and started to make things in the pebbles on the playground.  We made a volcano that erupted and was totally destroyed.  Then we swang.  When you have three little ones who can't get on the swings themselves or get them going or know how to pump, the mommy gets to run between all three, pushing, doing under-dogs and trying to keep her balance on that pebble-gravel stuff. 

I have the coordination of a rhino on ice skates.

Anyway, by this time the sun was getting lower and it was time to head home.  We washed our hands with my water and Zoe started on her snack.  About a block away from the school and any trees, I heard the word I dread in this situation.  "POTTY!" 

I'm not really big into running.  I think I've used our jogging stroller for jogging maybe 3 times.  Since it's uber allergy season, running isn't really that great for me.  Seeings how I can't really breathe well.  You overcome those things when a cute girl, with big, wild eyes is depending on you.

It's a full 1/2 mile back to our house.  About 1/4 mile in she started kicking her legs and moving around.  She yelled, "I'm doing the potty polka mommy!  HURRY!"

We made it a block away from our house before the accident happened.  At which point Zoe looked at me and said, "I'm soaked!  Oh no, it's ruined."

In between my gasps for breath I tried to comfort her and tell her that it's okay, but she thought maybe she should be out of breath too.  She started breathing like she had just run a 1/2 mile with someone doing the potty polka.

As I got her ready for a bath and she was still doing that gasping breath thing to imitate me, she looked at me and said, "that was a really fun time mommy.  Except for getting all wet.  Next time, can we not do that part?"

Absolutely.  Mommy lesson #735, next time we'll wear a pull-up.  Mommy needs better conditioning before sprinting 1/2 mile during allergy season.