It’s Monday, but I’m already thinking about Saturday.? No, not because I’m looking forward to the week ending.? I’m trying to think what I can do with the 3 Things all day.
SuburbanMommy started a new job after new years that requires she work on Saturdays through the end of February.? That means it’s me with three little kids all day.
It’s not that I’m one of those stereotype dads who is lost when left alone with his kids.? It’s just that, until now, we’ve always worked as a team on weekends.? We’ve got the two-on-three zone defense down pat.? We either all go together, or we split up the kids – divide and conquer.? We minimize the time it’s three on one, and things ran smoothly for the most part.
I’m now three Saturdays into this new arrangement.? How’s it going?? Surprisingly, it hasn’t been too bad.? But it hasn’t been easy, either.? The biggest challenge is finding activites that are suitable for Thing 3, who at 19 months, is at what I call the “professional troublemaker” stage.? Turn your eyes for half a second and he is causing trouble – climbing to the top of something, running into traffic, pulling a knife from the dishwasher, or sticking his hands in the toilet.? To say nothing about upsetting his delicate nap schedule.
The first two weekends, we went to the mall.? Believe it or not, a good place for an outing.? There is a train we can ride, a carousel, and the play area.? And plenty of open space to run.
This last Saturday, I found a place called Kid Drop Zone.? It was ok for the older ones, but too many stairs and other hot spots for a professional troublemaker like Thing 3.
So now I’m already dreading thinking about next Saturday.? Any great ideas?
Is it wrong to say “strip club?” Just kidding, of course. Do you have a zoo and decent weather? My wife likes to take our two-year-old to the pottery place where he can make and paint his own art. You have a place like that near you?That would be fun for all of them.
Got a Children’s Museum close by? There’s usually something there every age bracket will find interesting–even the adults.
We’re stuck inside these days. NJ winters, ugh! Lil’bug’s preschool teacher was ready for Friday to be over already! when I arrived last Friday. The kids haven’t been out on the playground in way too long. Saturday Lil’bug attended her first birthday party outside of the daycare facility. Here: http://www.pumpitupparty.com/
They have a pop-in playtime that might work for you, if you have one in your area.
The kids had such a BLAST! The parents got in and bounced a bit, too. So much fun.
Thanks for the suggestions, but keep trying please…We live near DC, which has a great zoo, but too cold. Nearest childrens museum is 1.5 hrs away in baltimore. Can you believe DC doesn’t have a childrens museum? Pottery place would be tough with the toddler who can’t sit still for a second, but that’s one I hadn’t thought of and may try it. Pump it up places would be perfect, but they don’t have open play on the weekend, just birthday parties.