It's Always An Adventure [when Dad gets left alone]

This is a true story. Only the names have been changed to protect the [guilty] innocent.

*****

Mom was helping out her mother-in-law one Saturday, so Dad and his two boys, Jackson and Jacob, were together for the day. Dad had signed them up for the Walk For Life that was to take place that morning at 9:00am, so the boys started getting ready to go. At 8:30am. And it's a 25-minute drive. Late already.

Dad hurriedly dressed the boys, himself, and out the door they went. At 9:00am. Still late.

They arrived at the State Fairgrounds at 9:30am, parked, loaded up the stroller and headed for the check-in as most walkers were crossing the finish line. Thankfully there were still two people manning the check-in table as Dad joked, "I think we're a little early."

"You missed the walk," the lady said.

"That's OK, we'll walk the loop anyway," the Dad told her. He collected their T-shirts, signed the waiver [good thing...], and headed back outside.

Dad decided that they would just do everything backwards. The walkers were finishing and heading for the snacks and bounce houses with their kids. Dad and his boys would too! So, Dad took Jackson's shoes and socks off, let him play in the bounce house, slide down the big slide, shoot baskets in the pop-a-shot, and have a grand time. Meanwhile, Jacob was content to let Dad hold him and watch his big brother play.

As the crowds grew, Dad and the boys decided to head to the snack table and then out on the Walk. Dad grabbed some coffee and water, as well as an oatmeal cream pie for all three. The boys headed out on their walk, with Dad pushing Jackson and Jacob in the stroller. They didn't even get to the starting line before a bump on the sidewalk caused the almost-hot coffee to splash all over his hand and Jackson's shoulder/arm. Crying, consoling, drying up the spill with the new shirt we got, starting the walk again.

Dad realizes that the level of difficulty for this walk just went up, due to trying to push two boys in a stroller one-handed while [trying not to spill] holding the coffee in the other.

Remember the oatmeal cream pies? At the halfway point, Jacob has managed to eat most of his, but his face, both hands, clothes and stroller have little pieces of cookie/icing everywhere.

Nearing the end of their own walk now, Jacob has become bored, and has arched his back in such a way that he is hanging, half-in and half-out of his stroller. Dad pulls the tray off the stroller, Jacob slides down farther and wedges himself even more between the front of the seat and the "safety bar." So, they all stop, while Dad keeps the stroller from moving with one foot and tries to unwedge Jacob from the stroller with both hands. He contorts Jacob this way and that, finally getting him back into a sitting position on his seat.

As they return to the truck to head home, Dad cleans up both boys and himself with diaper wipes, loads everyone up and starts the drive home thinking the adventure is over. With Jacob [detesting] loving the car ride home, Dad hands him toy to entertain him. With an old sucker stuck to it. That Jacob proceeds to hold in both hands and sticky himself up again. The Dad just [sobs uncontrollably] laughs, knowing this is just another chapter in the adventure that is parenthood. Then he takes the sucker away so that it doesn't end up in anyone's hair.

*****

There is a reason that Moms don't [run away] get out much without the family in tow. It's not that they don't need it - they do. It's just that they never know what story(ies) they'll hear about from Dad when they get home.