With my oldest done with preschool, I’ve been trying to find activities to keep us busy and not get the dreaded, “I’m bored.” I also still have our nanny/babysitter for two days a week, and I want to keep her coming back, so I decided to take my oldest on a “Mommy and Me” day.
I checked the movie listings, since they have $5 movies on Tuesdays here, but there was NOTHING. Not even a PG animated movie. The closest thing to a kid’s movie I could find was a Sponge-bob movie at our Budget theater. No thank you.
My son already has a park play-date set up with his preschool friends tomorrow, so I didn’t really want to do that either.
Instead, I figured we’d combine things he likes to do with things I need to get done. A win/win for everyone.
With a quick trip through the bank drive-thru, a return at TJ Maxx, we were off to one of his favorite places.
No, we’re not at some friends house or some strange park. We’re at every boy and man’s dream store. Have you guessed it yet?
Menards!
Yes, Menards. If you don’t have one in your area, it’s a store like the Home Depot or Lowe’s. We rode the glass elevator, played in the “door” area, then it was time to hit the showers. My son loves to pretend those are also glass elevators. He has a pretty active imagination, so we really could have been in the store all day. We only got a few strange looks, plus I really was buying something (storage totes for my closet organization. yes. still happening.)
I finally got him out of there so we could go to lunch. We met Grandpa, and my son drank two lemonades and ate very little of his burger. FYI, I ate a salad to stick with my healthy eating plan, even though the french fries smelled very, very good. I just had to keep reminding myself that I lost another couple of pounds (woo hoo!)
By that time, it was time to rescue, I mean relieve the babysitter. The twins seem to be a little less crabby today.
Speaking of the twins, we have their 3-year-old check-up tomorrow. I’m not going to lie. I’m a bit nervous. I’m always nervous before any appointments, but especially theirs. Have they grown enough? Are they saying enough words? Is it too hard to understand them? Are they developmentally on track?
That’s the biggest one.
I know they are truly miracles and fighters, and whatever is thrown at them, they can take it. It’s just me that can’t always take it. So, please think good thoughts for us that everything is on track.
I had to look up Menards to see what it was as we don’t have any. Our kids would love the glass elevator too! Our four kids are now four years old and I worry a little each time we go for their yearly check-up too, though I find that I worry less as they get older. I bet your kids will have a great check-up tomorrow. Positive thoughts coming your way.
Thank you so much! I guess I didn’t realize Menards wasn’t a National chain 🙂 It’s just like Home Depot…another favorite!
That is the beauty of children. Any place can become their playground.
Exactly! Thanks Shelah!
That’s amazing! What a fun day for the two of you! How fun! He’ll remember that forever!
Awe. Thank you!
My mom would always take us to Home Depot for I’m bored days and she would teach us about flowers and how to build and paint things…she raised us to be DIYers before there was such a thing! Creatively occupying kids is so much fun!
Awesome!
He loves going to Menards??! That’s too funny. What a little man! Good luck with the twin’s tomorrow! <3
Thank you!
I dont know what Menards is! ha! But I do know that I love planning mommy/son date days! I try to do them at least once a month 🙂
Sorry…thought there were Menards everywhere…just like Home Depot.
Dying that he loves the hardware store! So cute
Thank you Nicole! 🙂
Wow, I never thought about taking the kids to Home Depot/Lowes! I am going to have to give that a try! Good luck with the twins’ checkup…I’m sure they will be just perfect! 🙂
Thank you Kimberly!
How adorable is he acting like the shower is an elevator? Too cute! I didn’t know what Menard’s was either, lol. Thanks for telling me (though I kind of guessed when you said every boy and man’s dream store!).
He’s got quite an imagination! Thanks Trish!