It was 11am Stockholm time when the kids woke up (looking at it positively) in my childhood room. We managed to keep them “in bed”another hour until 6am Boston time before giving up and getting the day started. I felt better as I saw a woman power walking by on the main street. It reminded me that 6am is a normal time to start a day.
We were at the playground at the field by 9am and the track was filled with more power walkers circling to get in their daily exercise. No other families were with us. I guess families don’t get to the playground at the same time as power walkers. I really wouldn’t know, this early-to-the-park experience is new to me.
The rain caught up with us as we stopped by the playground at my former elementary school. Since we had no umbrellas or escape pod we gave in, got soaked and continued playing. Summer rains are soft and warm.
Wet plastic playground equipment is really annoying on a sunny day. During a steady rain it fast tracks the slide which normally sticks to damp skin. The temporary was a hit with the 5-year old. He literally nearly got flung off bouncing through the curves. Again, we were the only family at the playground in the rain. I guess families don’t go the playground during the rain.
We left when the lightning and thunder started.
The complete shift to glorious sunshine played into our 5-year old’s confusion that another day had started during his much-needed afternoon nap. He kept talking about the water slide of “yesterday.” Naps and jet lag can completely mess with a newly awoken child.
To stave off the heat we went to another play area which has water jets spraying around like an outdoorsy variation of the opened fire hydrant. Thankfully we were able to convince the 2-year old to put on (and even keep on) her bathing suit and explain to the other one that modest discretion was required when changing him in and out of his Lightning McQueen swim trunks. So he finally asks:
-Why is it not ok to be nude here?
The “Things are different in different places” response seems to satisfy him for now.
Families here in Boston do a whole bunch of stuff different than how we do back in Stockholm.
