iZoo: Cincinnati

Unfortunately, Charles had to work this past Saturday which meant I had another 12 hours with the kids alone. 

Which of the following do you think I chose?

[a] have cabin fever and let them destroy my clean house

[b] take them to an indoor overcrowded place on Saturday alone

[c] just cry

[d] get out in the beautiful 68 degree sunny weather

You guessed it [d]. I figured why not: educate, get some exercise, and not feel guilty for staying indoors all day on the quite possibly the prettiest day of the year. I knew that between getting ready, the hour drive there and back, and about 5 hours exploring the Zoo it would keep the kids happy and my mind off being away from Charles on Saturday.

I'm convinced that Zoo's and other forms of "children centered" indoor/outdoor places & events are really designed for parents who [a] want to be with their children, but [b] don't want to do that all day while they destroy their living space. That's my opinion at least, but it's my blog, so that's the right place to express it.

Getting out really helps keep a mommy-mind sane. 

So, how does one take a 7 month old, 2.5 and 4.5 year old to the zoo alone? Normally there would be well thought out planning and lots of anxiety involved, unless you're are me...

[1] clean out car so we could find out way to the carseats

[2] look up where exactly that Cincinnati Zoo even is

[3] dress kids in bright colors & put my phone number of a sheet of paper in their pockets

[4] throw lots of important things in the front seat of the car that I might want to eventually put in a diaper bag

[5] stop by Starbucks and slight graze someone's door only injuring your own car

[6] enjoy the hour drive while kids are restrained

[7] almost cry in the parking lot when you are now packing that bag you should have packed earlier, while the 3 kids are "running" around and the baby is leaning out of the stroller

[8] ahhh, made it inside the Zoo

[9] bathroom breaks for 3

[10] one babycarrier and one double stroller

[11] bring, but proudly didn't have to use the child leashes

[12] don't bring real camera [use iPhone]

[13] thank God constantly it isn't crowded

[14] dispose of one pair of briefs from accident

[15] thank the angels for helping me go down the escalator with 3 kids in arms & double stroller since the elevator wasn't an option

It didn't even hit me till it was over, but there were no fits, no drama and we actually all enjoyed ourselves [even though they skipped naps]. I got a great work out and hilarious looks from people approaching me pushing the two, but an bigger reaction when they realized there was also one on my back. And I was alone. 

I tried to make a point to tell the kids little facts at the different exhibits. I probably most enjoyed the bug exhibit because I'd never seen anything like it before. Especially the ant section where they had tubes running all over the building and then ants carried leaves from one side to the other.