It was one of those rare days when I had accomplished everything I wanted to accomplish by the end of Topher's quiet time: I was ahead with my writing, there was a toy-free path through the kitchen and down the hallway so I felt like the house was reasonably clean!, and dinner needed no preparation - so I decided to bundle the kids up and take them to the playground.
It was probably the best decision I made all week! Ellie giggled and giggled while I pushed her in the baby swing and Topher was up ladders and down slides and loving every minute.
We didn't stay very long because of a bathroom emergency (you'd think I'd know by now to make sure he goes before we leave the house!) but it was easily the highlight of Topher's day. It didn't matter that we had gone to the mall that morning, or that we had gone for a ride on his beloved City Bus - he just kept saying, over and over, "I had so much fun, Mommy!"
And all it took was fifteen minutes.