since i am putting tremendous effort into staving off things that do NOT make me happy in this current stage of my life, i immediately hopped onto the internet and sought out child-centered activities to occupy our time with in the area. and yesterday, we had our first official "anti-boredom" outing:
our day began as usual with a trip to the gym, but as i strapped warren into his carseat i excitedly asked him "guess where we're about to go?". his reply was a wide-grinned, wide-eyed gasp (i was actually terrified he was going to reply "home?" for a second there...but he was thankfully silent, needing only the excited gasp to communicate at the moment!). i told him giddily that we were going to go to the Butterfly House! AND, joy of all joys, DADDY was going to meet us there! now the child decides to speak: "Daddy! We're going to see Daddy!" (wee man loves him some Daddy). so off we go.
the Butterfly house is a conservation/educational site just to the right of the Navarre Bay Bridge. it's actually quite small, and truly geared for older and more studious, butterfly loving attendees, but that day they were having a live butterfly release. since that meant Warren got to actually hold a butterfly and watch it fly off out of his hands, i thought we could make it work. try, at least!
apparently a half dozen other mothers in the area had the same thought!
but the best part of the trip wasn't the Butterfly house. it was nifty, and there were some beautiful specimens i've certainly never seen, but i'm afraid the allure of the rare butterflies and beautiful gardens was lost on warren. but right next DOOR to the butterfly house was...
a HUGE park!
oh yes. not one, but TWO activity stations with all kinds of slides, tunnels, mirrors, rope swings, ladders...you name it. AND a swingset by the bay. AND a splash-park area (which, alas, we didn't enter...much to warren's chagrin...as mama didn't bring a swimsuit for the child!). and (gasp)...OTHER CHILDREN TO PLAY WITH!!!
oh this was too good. at one point, i actually got to sit on a bench and visit with another mother. i don't think I've done that since the last Fun Friday with Misty Thompson and her girls...and that was...what? May? and i had a good bit in common with her too, as she is an airforce wife whose husband just got relocated to the area. it was humbling to sit with her, and gain perspective on just how easy i really have it...no matter how challenging it feels some times! They just returned to the states from a 14-month tour in northern England...have been stationed in Alaska and many other places, from what it sounds like. she was a very calm person, and shed some wisdom on accepting change and learning to appreciate the locale you currently (however temporarily, or long seasoned) you inhabit. another little gift from God, gently reminding me that he is completely in control, and looking out for my best interests.
sadly, our visit was cut short as her son (apparently a bit of a daredevil) jumped from the TOP of the slide and hit the ground with a thud after thumping down the rungs of the nearby ladder...and of course, bursting into tears and cries of "maaaa-maaaa!". he was totally fine, but quite frightened, i believe. warren kept reminding me all afternoon "the little boy jumped down. he got hurt and his mommy picked him up". it was a good opportunity for me to try and teach why we don't leap from such heights!
anyhoo...warren played for a little bit longer, but as he had completely drained his cup of water and was VERY red faced, i talked him into getting in the car to head home. oh, alright...i bribed him. i told him that if we got in the car, we could go and get a Sprite to drink!! he changed direction mid-step!
so i picked up the hot, sandy and pretty tired child, packed him into the car, drove across the street to Burger King to get him a Sprite, and we headed back home. amazingly, he didn't fall asleep on the way back to the condo, but he took a very good nap that afternoon!
so! a visit with Daddy (very brief...about 15 minutes...but nonetheless a sighting!), a chance to hold (and release) a butterfly, and antics on the playground.
boredom, begone!
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