Chinese Fire Drill

In our never ending quest to keep LMJ busy we headed to the park early this morning. We saw an unfair contest as we arrived, a couple of grandparents versus toddler triplet boys and a big dog. The parents were in New York for the weekend to see the Yankees play the Mets, while the grandparents babysat. They were a very nice couple, but they were hanging on by the skin of their teeth. Actually, everything was fine when we showed up because they had all three boys in swings. LMJ went down the sliding board a few times, but what she really wanted to do was swing. The grandparents saw this and made a huge tactical mistake – they got the boys out of the swings. As toddlers will do, the three boys headed off in three different directions. I had it easy. I pushed LMJ on the swing while the grandparents – and MJ because she’s nice – tried to keep the boys from wandering into the street and throwing themselves off the jungle gym. One of the youngsters started pushing LMJ’s stroller – the one she pushes her baby named Doll in – all around the park. LMJ was holding Doll and didn’t have a problem with the little boy pushing the stroller until she wanted to put Doll in it and push it herself. The triplets are fifteen months old and have no clue about park or toy etiquette, so when the little boy barely broke stride as LMJ put Doll in the stroller she got upset and started to cry. The grandpa, who sounds like he didn’t leave Brooklyn for the first time until he was in his fifties, said, “Hey, we call that kidnapping,” as the little boy left with LMJ’s stroller and baby Doll. It was a bit of a weird moment because I want LMJ to share generously, but I also want her to know that her stuff is her stuff. It’s a bit of a needle to thread. It was also the first time we, as parents, were in the “been there done that” stage. We knew exactly how a fifteen month old operates, and were prepared to help. The grandparents were out numbered and behind enemy lines, and we were able to shore up their flanks. What’s funny and typical is that they were at the park to tire out the triplets, but as they were leaving it was obvious they were the ones who were beat. I can’t imagine having to deal with triplets all day everyday. Just the thought sends a shiver up my spine.