getting out

Today I had another parenting first. I went out with both the boys by myself. This is kind of a big deal for me, because I've been, I don't know, kind of nervous about doing this. The New Baby is almost three months old and I still feel very new to the whole multiple children thing (even if it is just two). Its twice as many kids as I am used to handling. And just the thought of taking them both out to go grocery shopping say, seemed like too much even to consider. So many car seats, so many buckles and snaps. Too many schedules to co-ordinate and hypothetical needs to pack for. I mean two diaper bags? Forget about it. 

Anyhow, this whole possibility was pretty much taken off the table by the fact that Hubs got a job and we are a one-car family. That means that I'm effectively stranded during the day. Which isn't as dire as it sounds. I'm kind of a homebody, and I like to spend what little free time I have making stuff, so I don't like to be too far from my art supplies when nap-time roles around. And as I mentioned yesterday, I like my schedule, and the increased sleeping time it provides for me, and going out kind of messes with that. So staying home is not really much of a problem for me. 

But there are times when both the Little Dude and I get a little antsy. Well, mostly the Little Dude. Its pretty important that he gets outside at least once a day. It really helps to moderate his energy level, and keeps his disposition as pleasant as I know it can be. So after nap time, he was a little cranky, and I suggested that we go to the park, or the 'play park' as he calls it. He was up for it. And so, we busted out a new piece of equipment. The Double Stroller. 

I've kind of been dreading the double stroller. I have unpleasant memories of a very unwieldy side-by-side model from back in my nannying days. It was so awkward and difficult to maneuver. I hated using it. And I had yet to try out our double stroller. Its one that my sister very kindly picked up for us at her kid's school's rummage sale, and I had basically only glanced at it since it took up residence in our garage. But today, I told myself, is the day. I girded my loins and dragged it up the stairs into our kitchen to see if I could figure it out (because the Little Dude would not come out into the garage with me. Post nap crankiness at its finest). That's the one downside of second hand baby gear; it doesn't come with any instructions. I was tempted to wait for Hubs (my own personal MacGyver) to come home and figure it out, but I'd already made mention of the play park, and so at least in the Little Dude's mind there was no going back. 

As soon as I plunked the big folded up thing in the middle of the kitchen L.D. was enraptured. All thoughts of snacks or toys (or crankiness) were abandoned as he came to help me untangle this new thing. He was very excited. There were wheels to be pointed out. And buttons to be found. "Look mama, dere's a red button. Right dere!" He was very helpful actually. And eventually with enough poking and prodding we got it unfolded and looking like a stroller. L.D. was thrilled. It had two seats. One behind the other "like a train, mama!" He needed to sit in them both immediately! We had a minor melt down when I pulled out the vacuum to clean some stray crumbs and dirt out of it, but soon we were both on the same page again. And as soon as the New Baby woke up, we fed him and got him bundled up for our first trip out into the world as Three. 

After a week of lovely warm weather it was unusually cold and overcast today. But we have warm clothes, so off we went anyways. And of course, as soon as we got out there, it began to rain. Of course. Naturally. But I'd already done the hard part, so we were not deterred. 

Because the hard part is getting ready. I tell you, you have no idea how hard it is to get two little kids ready. Or maybe you do. Either way, it can be quite an effort. There are preemptive potty visits, diaper changes, clothing upgrades, shoes, hats, coats, secondary trips to the potty, diaper bags to check and repack, emergency snacks to be prepared, favourite toys to be gathered.... by the time you are done you are almost to tired to go anywhere. I remember when I first became a mom and realized the effort that is required just to leave the house I wanted to do a little performance art/social acknowledgment of all the work that it is. I was going to print up a little business card that said "Congratulations! You did it! You got out of the house." and hand them out to other moms that I passed in the street or met in the park. (I still want to do it, but out here in dumb semi-suburbia there is not such thing as passing people on the street or meeting them in the park, unless you mean passing them in cars.)

My, I do go on don't I? Anyways, the point is this. We went out today.   Here we are, all set to go.

And here is our impromptu rain cover. It was only spitting a little, don't worry. And all told we were only out for about half an hour. It was quite close to dinner by the time we got everything together to go out, and with the semi-rain we did not linger in the park long. But long enough to go down the slide a bunch of times and do a bit of climbing and pretend car driving. And now that we have a means of conveyance that I am no long wary of using (our double stroller, yay!) we can do it again any time we want. Its a good solid machine, but I'm telling you, its a full body work out. On the way there we were downhill, which felt like a breeze, but on the way home it was a whole different story. What's 36 lbs + 14 lbs + whatever that stroller weighs? A lot, that's what. 

If only we lived in walking distance of the library. 

Comments

[michele]

We have double stroller too and when we all go for a family walk my husband is always trying to get me to go faster. He has the 70 lb dog pulling him along ( I can't quite control him ), while I'm pushing about 70 lb of kids!

[Lisa Mizeri]

ah yes, this looks familiar! Ours is a Joovy Caboose though, so the second kid sits in a little jump seat or stands on a platform at the back. It's great for Montreal's bus aisles and grocery stores, because it isn't very big and only weighs about 25lbs. What we didn't foresee, however, is The Gigglet's insistence that SHE ride in the regular stroller seat, no matter how many times we tell her that Pickle is too little to ride on the back!

[Marcia Van Drunen]

woohoo! we still use the double for whichever kids want to sit in it :) It's been awhile, but we've walked to the library a number of times. probably due for that again.

[finger thumb]

oh Lisa, that cracks me up. Of course she wants the 'real' seat! Our little Dude would be just the same way!