Several times a week, we load up and take the toddler to the park. Dadda runs, Mama walks and pushes the stroller, and then we all meet up on the playground for awhile.
Monkey knows this is part of our routine and will frequently prompt us to get ready in the evenings.
“Socks and shoes?” he’ll request. Or sometimes just, “GO! In the car. Go!”
But yesterday he came out of the bathroom with his father, looked me seriously square in the eye and demanded, “I want to go to the park!”
I felt like crap yesterday, thanks to the adorable, olive-sized fetus in my womb, and I did not want to go to the park. But my son is cute, and well, he has dimples y’all.
Dimples.
You cannot say no to the dimples. Just try.
So we got dressed and went to the park. While Dadda ran, Monkey and I just hung out on the playground. He went up and down the slides a few times, made friends with a wiser, older woman (she was four) while exploring the big-kid equipment and stared longingly at the merry go round as it spun at breakneck speeds, piled with grade schoolers.
He’s generally a fan of all the playground apparatuses, save one. The swings. He hates the swings.
We’ve tried putting him in several types of baby swings with no success. He screams and thrashes and insists, “Get out! Get down! Get up!”
So we quit. But then he saw me sit on the regular swing and something must have clicked. He made me put him on every swing on the swing set, sitting for about 15 seconds before hopping up to get on another one.
Finally, he settled on the swing at the end. I gave him a little push. He held on tight to the chains. I pushed harder. He giggled.
And for twenty solid minutes, that kid was swinging. I would periodically ask him, “Do you want to get up?” to which he’d reply, “Nope.”
He was still swinging when Dadda finished his run. Still swinging after we’d chatted a bit. Still clinging desperately to the swing as we tried to pry him off to get home before dark.
Driving home, I was so glad I’d agreed to go the park. It’s so special to get to see your kid do something, anything, for the first time. That sense of wonder and accomplishment in their eyes is a better high than any drug could provide.
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Love those pictures! And there is no way anyone can say NO to dimples!!!
It’s pretty impossible.
As much as I don’t like pushing the swing, the joy on your kid’s face when he/she has discovered something new and exciting and FUN to love is just….magical.
Those dimples are going to get him in So. Much. Trouble.
I know. I know. I hope he stays sweet throughout his life and only uses the power of the dimples for good.
I love the swings, always have. I can appreciate why he didn’t want to get off. And yes, those dimples!!!
I like the swings too. But I prefer big porch swings with pillows. Cause I’m old. And fat.
How cute is he? My kids love the swings and I get to spend hours pushing them when we are at the park! Hope you feel better soon.
I don’t mind pushing him so far. I bet that wears off, according to everyone else!
Oh my good gosh. Yes. Dimples yes.
They’re SO deep. His little chubby face, I just want to nom on it.
How fun! My toddler likes the swings too and it doesn’t matter which kind it is! I wish he’d sit there for 20 minutes like yours did though!
It’s the longest he’s ever participated in a single activity, I swear!
I wouldn’t have been able to say no either. I am a sucker for the “Pweese, Mommy.”
Yes! He says “Peas?” and “Conk you” and I die.
I’m glad you went, too. And I understand because I have dimples
Also, for some reason, I got American Pie (we were singing…bye bye Miss American Pie) stuck in my head when I read your post title. And I just wanted you to know.
Promise me you only use them for good!
The fourth best day of my life was when my kids learned to pump themselves on a swing.
(Not even exaggerating. Okay. Maybe a little. But still.)
YAY!
Haha! Yeah, I understand that the fun of pushing them wears off, huh?
Yup, you just can’t say ‘no’ to dimples. They are all powerful, aren’t they?
But, you’re right, there really isn’t anything more wonderful than seeing your kidlet try something for the first time. :>
It’s my favorite!
How awesome he figured out the swing!
What a good monkey.
I loved the pictures! What a big boy!! I cant wait to see him soon. You can come along, too! lol
Hah, funny!
He is so cute! You are right it really is a joy to see your kid experience anything for the first time.
great photos. love that face!
Oh, that smile on the swing…I’m pretty sure we would’ve had to have gone for ice cream.
That’s awesome! He’s so good at being on the big kid swings! My daughter isn’t ready for those yet, she falls off of the back because she doesn’t realize she has to jump down.
He’s so smart!
That smile is priceless.
I adore how happy he looks in that picture. Z did the same. Refused the baby bucket swing (except when he was under 1 and easier to cajole into just sitting around looking cute). The minute I sat on the regular swing he was up in my lap, then down, then in the swing himself just as you’ve described. It was bittersweet. The swings are my favorite playground item. I love that he loves them, but at the same time, aw, mah baby! He’s big enough to be on a regular swing alone. If he had more than the slight one dimple I’d be in for it.