Our Brave Day

from the mom

Yesterday I had an appointment in Bellevue in the afternoon that I needed to keep. M had a meeting in Seattle in the morning. There was no way for us to keep both appointments without the kids and me going up with him. But what to do in Seattle for two and a half hours while he was in a meeting?

Going out with two children is a bit daunting to me even with help. Going alone is...well, quite brave for me. It was biting cold outside and so a park was out.

Ben has been a good big brother. But his days at home are pretty boring and not very stimulating. So I decided that we should do something special for Ben. So we went to the Children's Museum near Seattle Center. I found my trusty free 2-hour parking spot and then the adventure really began.

I unloaded the stroller, put the girl in it, the diaper bag, and then unloaded the boy and bundled everyone up. Then we proceeded to walk.... Ben was very obedient. He walked along holding my hand, gazing at the city around him. We walked past the Experience Music Project which Ben loved. And past the Space Needle. Into the Center House and onto the elevator.

I hoped to find an environment where Ben could play, and I could sit on a bench and watch him and feed Kyri if necessary. Instead we found a zoo.... We were given special permission to keep the stroller and I proceeded to attempt to follow Ben with it through a maze of people and "exhibits." There were few benches and there was no place appropriate to feed Kyri.

But Ben was in heaven. My normally shy boy had no problem with the crowds. He played and played and played. He interacted well with others (though he didn't seek it out). One little boy fell into him and he hit a corner which left him with a swollen left eye, but after a brief crying spell and comfort session, he was back to the races. Kyri, the doll, slept peacefully in her stroller.

About ten minutes before we absolutely had to leave she awoke with a start, demanding her lunch. There was no way we would make it back to the car so I improvised. We went to the top floor of Center House where tables and chairs are set up overlooking the food court. As discreetly as possible I nursed her while Ben ate his snack and drank his juice. A diaper change and we walked back to the car. At one point, Ben said "Oh-oh." I told him it was fine and kept walking. He said it a few more times before I looked and realized he had lost a glove. I looked back and saw it about 10 yards back and told Ben to stay put by the stroller. (If you've ever pushed a stroller in one hand and held the hand of a toddler you would know that all three of us going back was not an option.) A nice mother (with kids in tow and a grandma to help) told me to run back and she would stay there. I did.

Daddy's meeting was late and as we drove around and around the block, Kyri got really frustrated. She wanted someone to shove her pacifier in her mouth every 20 seconds when she spit it out. But Daddy came (looking dashing in his new long coat) and Ben was asleep seconds later.

All in all, a success. But would I do it again?