The monster at McDonalds

Every so often, when Peanut-lover and I can't stand the children anymore desperately need a little help to get through the last couple of hours before bedtime, we pack everyone up and head to McDonalds.

If I had written a list of mommy goals before I had children, going to McDonalds on a predictable monthly cycle every so often would not have made it anywhere on my list. But before I had kids, I didn't have a clue how hard being a mommy could be some days. Don't get me wrong, I knew it would be hard, just not this hard.

Anywho, so about two weeks ago, it was time for another desperation trip to McDonalds. We grabbed a couple of flurries and settled in to watch the kids play.

KK played cautiously at first, eyeing the other children, but mostly sticking close to the ice cream mommy.

JJ, naturally, was the opposite. Within minutes he was up in the highest tunnel playing with the big kids. And yes, mommy did have to climb up to rescue him when one of the big kids did a cartwheel over him, thankyouverymuch for asking. That's what we get for letting a 15-month-old loose in a playplace that has an explicit age limit of 3-10 years.

Eventually the big kids invented a very cool game, which involved lots of running and screaming and climbing and jumping and hiding... oh, and it included our shy KK, running, screaming, laughing, climbing, jumping, and hiding along with all the big kids.

The game: running from the monster.

The monster: JJ

The funny part: JJ had no idea that he was playing. He was just so delighted to be playing with all the kids that he would throw his hands up in the air, in a very monster-like way, each time they approached him.

JJ was delighted.

KK was delighted.

Mommy and Daddy, who finally got to laugh off their stress, were delighted.

McDonalds, we'll be back.