There are two things I can tell my boys that get their 'hyper kid mode' activated. 1: We're going to the playground, and 2: We're having a playdate. When either of these statements reach their tiny ears, it's as if I just pumped them with a gallon of sugar on top of 2 liters of caffeine while letting them eat all their halloween and easter candy at the same time. I really should invest in some noise canceling headphones to wear when I tell them this.
Playgrounds really are an ingenious invention. There's so much to climb on, slide down, swing around to keep the little ones interested while at the same time they're getting more than a daily does of exercise to tire them out enough to go to sleep that night without a fight! They can yell and scream at the top of their lungs without puncturing my ear drums and climb to their hearts content without getting into trouble.
We have a really nice playground less than five minutes from our house. Instead of those annoying little rocks that get in shoes and flip flops, they put in this foamy stuff that's sturdy enough to handle the most destructive toddlers but soft enough to cut injuries down. The play equipment includes three big slides for the big kids or daring toddlers, several small slides for the scared big kids or more timid toddlers, one twisty slide, an arched bridge, a hanging bridge, ladders, swings, monkey bars, and a few little interactive pieces to engage all types of kids. There's also a walking trail, a frisbee golf course, a soccer field and an outdoor amphitheater, plus three pavilions with picnic tables and grills.
The only time I try to avoid going is right after school. That's when a lot of parents go and after going there a few times as soon as school lets out I see why. The playground is right beside the school. In fact you can access the playground from the carpool line. When I get there and let loose the children, I notice that sitting under the pavilion are several moms who look like I feel. "I really don't want to take these kids home yet." Because the kids have been in school all day, building up energy, and noise. As I sit down to watch my kids zoom around the playground with all the other little kids like so many energizer bunnies on batteries that never run out, it is inevitable to hear one of those poor looking parents say "I wish I had their energy." I reluctantly join the sitting moms wondering if I look as tired as they do. Sometimes, just to escape the feeling of being old, I'll get out there and push the boys on the swings, or chase them around, or help them on the monkey bars. But it doesn't last long, I just can't keep up with them for long.
Once I see the kids start slowing down some, I decide it's time to go home. Of course I'm met with pleas of "I don't want to go!" "Just ten more minutes! Five more minutes? Two more minutes?" But I drag them to the car, get them in and get them home. And as predicted, they usually pass out earlier than normal at bedtime.
Playdates, I believe, are more for the parents than the kids. At least for me and my best friend they are. See, my husband is usually the only one to help me with the kids here at home, and he's great with them, playing with them, helping them, and giving me time to myself. And because he works during the day and I'm a stay at home mom, I'm usually all alone with them during the day. So playdates are nice break for me.
Me and Katie have known each other since high school, but having kids at the same time really brought us closer together. You know how you see those sayings "You need that one person you can be childish and stupid with"? Well, that's what we are when we get together. Her two kids and my two kids are the same age, and have enjoyed playing together since they were babies. We've gone through the pregnancies, the newborn stages, the toddler years and now kindergarten together, keeping each other sane by one upping each other on the craziness the kids can bring to our lives.
We frequently enjoy playdates, swapping out turns at each others houses. The excitement level is maxed out by both me and the boys as we prepare for playdate day. The past few playdates have taken place at my house and from the time the kids get up until Lily and Keefer get here, I hear "Are they on their way? When will they be here? Are they here yet?" while I'm texting Katie, "Are you on your way? When will you be here? Why aren't you here yet?" Once I get the confirmation text that they are in the car on the way, my kids can be found at the back door with their faces pressed against the glass, watching. I try to refrain myself from pressing my face against the glass, I mean, I am almost 30, and that's just one more smudge to clean when it's all over.
So after about fifteen minutes from her text, the drive up. All four kids go nuts. Connor and Kenny start jumping up and down, "THEY'RE HERE! THEY'RE HERE!" while Lily and Keefer bolt from the car and run to the back door. Shoes and socks barely get off feet before the kids are running back to the bedroom to start work on playing with all the toys while me and Katie look at each other with that crazed look in our eye, "It's playdate day! I'm not by myself with the kids!"
The entire day is spent in hysterical laughter, snack food overload, and stupid, childish, arguments. The kids usually just play. By the end of the day, the kids are well worn out and Katie is loading them up in the car. We'll stand there for ten minutes talking, cause neither of us are ready for the playdate to be over.
Summer time is always great because then we get to combine both worlds. Playdates at the playground! We're just waiting for the weather to get warmer.
So between playgrounds and playdates, I can usually give my kids a good day at least once in a while. Now that it's warming up again, I usually get asked everyday after school if we can go to the park. And with summer break coming, playdates will become a little more frequent and longer.
