A Saturday Afternoon Field Trip

Saturday afternoon was a perfect day.We had a soccer game in the morning, an appt for three kids to get flu shots at 10:30, a stop at Trader Joe's to follow - and then absolutely nothing. The laundry was caught up. I had no pressing obligations. The house was (somewhat) clean and I had already cooked a good amount of food.

I decided it was time to fulfill a request that Riley and Emma had been making for months.

We went to the thrift store. But instead of jumping in the car, I decided that we'd walk there.

After all, we had nothing else to do that day, and I'm really trying to impress upon my kids the reality that they CAN walk places, they don't need to drive short distances, and that choosing said option is better for them AND the environment. So we laced up our shoes, slipped on jackets (and mittens for some of them, because it was brr, brr chilly!) and we started walking.

My suburban raised children don't live where there are piles and piles of leaves, So the gutters full of leaves were VERY enticing.

I watched them scoops handfuls of leaves and joyfully toss them, and I thought to myself, Relax. Let it go. Live in the moment.

So I said nothing about dirt (or worms, or animal poop) and let them scoop and toss. Scoop and toss. I remembered being a child and building dams in the gutters from bark and pine straw when it rained. I tried as much as I could to live in the moment. I held hands with one child or another, drank the coffee I'd brought and we chatted about nothing exciting. Boba Fett. Puppies. Thanksgiving. How vaccines work in a body. 

The minutia of living with children.

We spent two hours at the thrift store, filling the four reusable bags that we'd brought with us with shirts, skirts, church dresses, shoes and a Snoopy video tape. I gave the three younger kids $5 each to spend, and it was wild. While I combed the racks of clothing, they rifled through the toys and ran back and forth to me with the newest selection.

Mom, if this costs $2.25, how much do I have left? What if I get this? I don't think I want this. Which do you think is a better choice?

And I can't tell you how hard my brain hurt trying to add $2.25 and .96 and $1.49 in my head. Geesh.

My little girls pondered slippers, wedding shoes, doll babies and books. Ultimately, they settled on slippers for Riley (that don't fit - argh!!) and a battery operated kitten for Emma. And pooled their remaining money for a baby bed.

 And then we walked back the way we came. It was a teeny bit more difficult going home, though.

It was a most enjoyable four hours.

 

Comments

[Megan]

This is so cool. So many parents I know plan every minute of every day, and then when there is free time, they are too tired to do things like this. And having fun at the thrift store, getting cool new toys for hardly any money, playing in the leaves, that's the stuff memories are made of.

Those battery operated kittens can be pretty creepy, though.

[Elizabeth]

What a wonderful way to spend the day!

[Lyz]

And they'll probably treasure that doll bed more than anything they get at Christmas. Perspective.:)

Yay for thrift stores!

[Headless Mom]

I need to hit the thrift stores around me.

Those are great pics!

[MelissaS]

that just sounds like an awesome afternoon!

[Beth]

How fun! I too had a great, no obligation Saturday and know exactly how liberating it feels (especially after the crazy fall sports season). Oh, and here's a "helpful hint" -- I also got the same baby bed for my daughter at a garage sale several years ago, and a magic eraser sponge thingy makes it look brand spankin' new! It even took off some crayon marks.

[addy]

Terrific way to spend a spontaneous afternoon!! So happy for you and the kids!

[kyooty]

What a great Saturday.

[MamaCas]

Sounds like a great day! Isn't it awesome to discover there's a whole afternoon of nothingness ahead of you? I love that!

Your "let it go" moment reminds me of an incident MANY years ago. My oldest son was 2 years old and I was heavily pregnant with my 2nd baby boy. Sitting was quite uncomfortable...so I did a lot of waddling around the neighborhood with my little boy to keep me company. One day, we headed out after it had rained....there were puddles everywhere. He stepped in one and I managed to stop myself before I said, "No puddles!" I let him stomp and splash through every single puddle on our walk. He was soaked from the waist down, but he had a great time and I have a great memory that proves I am capable of letting go sometimes.

[elz]

I love the unplanned moments. We did that this Sunday. We walked to the park, played, walked home (admittedly, it's not far) and had a snack picnic outside until daddy came home.

[Brandy]

Sounds like a lovely afternoon!

[Deborah]

What a fun Saturday for you and the girls!

[A Simple Twist of Faith]

Fun, fun, fun, thank heaven for little girls!

[Sandra]

what a great afternoon spent with the girls. they will remember this day with you for a very long time. :-)

[UKCraftySal]

This sounds lovely. Yet another thing to add to your "Why You are a Great Mom" list. Glad you had fun.