My granddaughters have reached the toddler stage so “going for a walk” has taken on a whole new meaning.
Traditionally, “going for a walk” means moving quickly with the goal of increasing one’s heart rate.
Toddler walks are different.
Toddler walks are more focused on sticks, rocks, leaves and worms and less focused on physical fitness. Or getting anywhere. Or actually walking.
Toddlers live in the moment and sometimes the moment involves sampling the various rocks available for tasting on the trail. Sometimes “the moment” requires leaving the beaten path and making a beeline for someone’s lawn ornament.
(Insert squeal of delight here.)
Every moment is filled with delight.
Well, nearly every moment.
The moments spent trying to pass by the park are filled with writhing, twisting little bodies trying to escape their captors who intend to take them to places that are “not the park.”
Sometimes there are other kids in the park. They have chalk and sand toys. Toddlers take the chalk and sand toys. The other kids cry. Toddlers run.
Going to the park is fun.
The swings are fun. Toddler girls love the swings. Swings make tummies feel funny.
Slides are fun. Slides are dangerous. Slides make Grandma nervous. Toddler girls love the slides — especially when Grandma runs at breakneck speed to stop them from scaling the ladder alone.
Spy a kitty and chase it out of the park.
Resume walk.
The path is filled with wonders. Black rocks. Brown rocks. White rocks — all beautiful. All tasty.
Leaves now cover the trail.
Red leaves. Yellow leaves. Brown leaves — all beautiful. All tasty.
There are sticks on the trail. Long ones. Short ones. Sticks for hitting!
“We do not hit.”
A worm! Is it tasty? Grandma says, “No!”
Grandma is kind of a spoilsport. She does not eat rocks or leaves or hit with sticks.
She does not swing on the swings or slide on the slide. She does not chase kitties or squeal with delight when she finds a worm.
Grandma is old, but it’s not too late to help her learn how to really take a walk. The toddler girls will help her!