What About Socialization?

It’s been extremely unseasonably warm here in Chicagoland for the last few days.  So we decided to spend the day at the lovely Morton Arboretum with our friends.  It is a different kind of beautiful out there this time of year– gold and russet grasses, bright purple rosebush canes, and multicolored mushrooms.  Lydia was very sad that she had forgotten her camera at home.

We had planned on “starting schoolwork again” that day, which must’ve gotten my head stuck in “I must make this a learning experience” mode.  While Lydia and our 4 year old friend were running around trying to see who could find the biggest rock to throw into the pond, I was on the trail, shouting, “Hey guys! Come see this cool mushroom!” and “Wow, I think this is an owl pellet, come look!”

Lydia reluctantly approached.  ”I’m looking at this owl pellet to see if we can find the bones from his last meal.  Look, honey, I think that’s a mousejaw.”  This yielded more squeals and an announcement from Lydia that she was going to stay as far away from me as possible, thanks.

The four-year-old was focused on scientific experiments: determining how far he could run from us before his mom freaked out and testing to see which pebble made the biggest splash.  But the squeal of “Eeeeeww, mom, why are you poking at that poo with a stick!?!?” sent him running in our direction.

“POO I want a stick so I can poke at poo too! HA HA HA, Lisa, look there’s more poo! I’m going to find some more poo to poke” and off he ran.

His mother can cherish memories of our lovely trip to see some nature; the constant reminders of our beautiful day will be at hand for quite some time.

“HEY MOM let’s go out today and find some more poo! I said poo, did you hear me say that when I said poo?!?  Wait I think there’s some can I pick it up, huh can I mom pllleeeeease??”

I hope she speaks to me again.