A little story

Tonight Scott was at The Truth Project, so I took M to a fast food place for dinner. I usually never go to fast food because it yucks me out. The whole time M was eating his chicken nuggets, I was shoveling sweet potatoes (from home) in his mouth hoping the good would defeat the bad. However, this place has an outdoor play area that I thought M might like (read: wear himself out at).

This play area has those big tube things that you crawl into and slide out of, but M was pretty content putting his car in and out of the shoe cubbies. And I was content watching him. Then...to my surprise, he started crawling up one of the tubes. I figured I better go after him since he has never attempted anything like this before, so I threw the diaper bag over my shoulder and headed his way. I knew that by the time I reached him, he would have changed his mind and headed back out. Shows what I know.

So in I went after him. Now is the time I will mention my claustrophobia. And the suffocating heat that consumes a tube toy in the desert. And M in front of me moving quite slowly...and two little girls behind me squealing very loudly. And a diaper bag strap around my neck.

I was starting to sweat. My eyes darted around the tubes looking for air vents. How much longer til we get to the slide? Where is the slide???? Will the parents understand if I throw these girls out of my way to get back to the entrance? To get back to air? I was inching closer and closer to panic. Who am I kidding....I was sprinting to panic.

And then...the slide!!!!! Relief overcame me. I plopped M on my lap and we slid out into glorious sunshine and fresh air. Matthew had a huge grin on his face as I set him on the ground, and then he darted back to the entry tube.

So I did what any mama would do...took a deep breath and followed him back in.

edited2add: I should note that just because we don't eat fast food doesn't mean we don't eat junk food. We are definitely not health nuts as evidenced by the stock I own in Little Debbie.