Now, scoot!!

Yesterday we caught up to all of our friends in the states in terms of daylight savings time, and so this morning I had to peel my groggy children out of their beds for school.  Ella was extremely confused when I woke her up: she thought it was still the night before and that she was just drifting off to sleep for the night. Alex asked me, glassy-eyed, exactly how long he had until he would be so late that he would have to run to school, and he curled up on the couch after breakfast for a catnap.

But they rallied when it was time to head out the door, and Joey and I watched their little hoods bob over the hill to the school house, huddled in important conversation. I suspect they get along best when they're away from mom and dad and not squabbling for our our attention and affection. I think those morning walks are really good for them.

Joey and I had pile of groceries to buy, as we always do on Mondays.  Sometimes, when I'm walking to the store as the morning fog is lifting and the morning birds are out,  I think I might want to continue shopping with my little trolly when we return to the states, walking the easy two miles to the Metropolitan market to pick up our groceries.  And then there are days like today, when I have three heavy bags dangling from the stroller, the bottom basket of which is bulging with milk and juice, and my trolly full to bursting, while Joey sits like a raj in his stroller (although he's performing the very important job of balancing the bags that are hanging on the back of the stroller).

Here comes trouble.

Ella's and Alex's friends joined us for lunch today, and after they played for a little while and finished their homework and chores, the rain stopped and the sidewalks dried enough for us to burst out of the house for some fresh air.

There's a playground next to our S10 train line that the kids always drool over when we pass, and I thought it might be fun for us to try to get there by scooter.  I knew there's a smooth flat, blacktop paved path the entire way, although I didn't realize it was so far (Dennis thinks it's a little over 2 km).  As it was, Ella and Alex ended up scooting at least half that again: they would race ahead and practice rolling up and down hills or picking bouquets until Joey and I caught up.

I seriously misjudged Joey's energy level: he grimly scooted, trying to catch up with his brother and sister, until we got to the first train station.  Then he planted his feet, insisting "Our train, our train!" He was done with his exercise.  I convinced him to scoot, again, as far as the next station, but then he would go no further: "NO! OUR TRAIN!" And he wouldn't ride in his stroller ("No, I big. I scoot! I walk! I TRAIN!")

Finally I ended up grabbing him around the waist, him desperately clutching at his scooter, writhing and wailing. That got old, and quickly.

So I set him down again, but he started running back towards the train station ("OUR TRA-A-A-AIN!") while Ella and Alex watched, giggling, until they saw that their mommy was about to lose it.  Then Ella deigned to help, and tried telling Joey a story to calm and distract him.  That worked, somewhat, but he still wouldn't go in his stroller and he still wouldn't move on the path.

So I decided to try the old "Okay, bye bye, Joey.  We're going now.  Bye bye." But that didn't work, either.  Alex completely lost his composure: "NO! You can't leave JOEY! Mommy, NO! JOEY! JOEY," and he ran, protectively to his brother. Ella was completely mystified: "Alex, didn't anyone ever teach you that old trick?" Apparently not: Alex took some convincing that his mother hadn't suddenly become a child-abandoning monster.

But, during that time, Joey had a moment to recollect himself and realize how thirsty all that water made him.  Thirsty enough to climb into the stroller so that we could get to a fountain more quickly, and then to fall asleep less than a minute after getting strapped in.

My oh my.

But after all that, we had a lovely time: the park was just past Google, so we stayed there an hour until Dennis was ready to leave work and join us.

Playground of the day: there were also some swings and a large sand box, and many tame birds
that the kids fed their crumbs

The hero of the day, with Joey studiously
avoiding the camera

The park and bicycle path are just along the beautiful Sihl
River, which is blooming with cherry trees and wild jonquils.
If not for extenuating circumstances, I would have enjoyed
the walk immensely.

Joey woke up just before Dennis joined us and picked up exactly where he left off.  But a pair of strong arms made everything better, for everyone.