Each day before lunch I like to take my daughters out for a walk. It's nothing extraordinary - just a 30 minute stroll around our neighborhood so they can get some energy out before they take a nap. I always feel like they will sleep better or more importantly sleep at all if they get the fresh air.
Perhaps I shouldn't be so quick to call it not extraordinary...I've had some great times with them and their Granny-Nanny a.k.a. my mom. I've taken great pictures of them walking hand in hand, we've picked pine cones, and I get to see them enjoy the great outdoors. But perhaps the greatest lesson I've taught them thus far is...no not look both ways before crossing...it's how to get a truck to honk!
My kids enjoy walking along the busy road at the end of our block. They get genuinely excited when big trucks pass and shout, "Mommy Mommy Truck!" as if I didn't see it much less hear it rumble along. But it's sweet. Rhu gets a real kick out trucks honking and tries to wave to each one. So, being the responsible parent I am, I thought it was high time I taught her the valuable lesson of the international gesture to get trucks to honk. I explained that if she wanted a truck to blow its horn, then she should raise her little arm up and down in a yanking motion. Trucks would see it and the cool ones will honk. When I showed her the effectiveness of this she was dazzled. Each time a truck came our way, her little paw went up and down with such enthusiasm I couldn't help but giggle. The laughs that came out of her mouth should be bottled like a French perfume.
I take it back, this time with them is extraordinary and I wouldn't trade it for anything. And maybe my girls will look back someday and remember their mom taught them something useful...or at least fun.
