“I want to go to the Children’s Museum!”

A popular request around our house – especially during the winter months.  It’s adorable that Griffin is now old enough (and vocal enough) to let me know he’d like to go explore at the museum.  So last week, after a few days of repeated requests, we went.  I still feel weird about going places without Carter while he’s at school, but I figure I took him to the TCM countless times so it’s the younger set’s turn now. 

After playing at the water table and sand station Kiefer played at the toy train station and Griffin parked himself in the “Tractor Creepy” (the mini skid steer)  He would not let anyone else have a turn boys and girls alike tried to succeed him, but to no avail.  Finally I had to entice him with the promise of lunch.

We made our way to through the crowded cafeteria and I can’t shake the feeling that all eyes are on me.  Maybe it’s my imagination, maybe it’s because I have three children dressed alike melting because they need lunch.  But as we’re weaving our way through the gauntlet of chairs Kiefer’s crying and dodging ahead to places I can’t navigate with my double-wide double stroller so I’m barking commands, “No Kiefer, not there, we can’t get there, how ’bout over here?” to which I hear a loud, “Nooooooo!” echo through the cafeteria.  More eyes penetrating the back of my head…. then just as I was hopeful the show would be over we make an even greater spectacle of ourselves as Griffin lunges out of his seat in the front of the stroller and attempts a triple lutz for the chair and nearly lands on his head but for his quick-handed mother who grabbed ahold of his matching rugby shirt and saves him an inch above the hard tile floor.  A gasp was heard around the lunch room followed by a lull in the conversation.  All I could do was smile at the hispanic lunch lady who was cleaning the table next to me and move my crying crew to the nearest seats.  I’m really not that bad a mother, they just get really melty when they’re hungry.  Next time I promise I’ll strap him in.

I juggled nursing Fletcher while dolling out sandwiches and scarfing down my own lunch.  After I got some food in them, my delightful children returned.  Last stop on our museum visit: The Carousel.  On our way, we saw a sight we’ve never seen before – they were dusting the Chihuly using ropes and pulleys and rappelling gear.  It was fascinating!  I said outloud, “you take dusting to a new level.”  But the guy didn’t really even crack a smile he just looked at me while I took his picture.

Finally, we made it to the Carousel and happily selected our noble steed.  Except the fact the Griffin has decided he’s afraid of the Carousel.  At first I tried to help him move past this phobia but then as we sat on the bench during our dizzying ride I couldn’t help but see things from his perspective and honestly, I saw things with new eyes.  I can’t blame him for his concern- you see lots of teeth, scary smiling horses and fake eyeballs everywhere.  So I held onto him a little more tightly as we settled into the bench.