Thanks to my husband’s work, we get half price membership to the Blank Park Zoo. That means that if we go three times, it pays for itself. With a toddler, this seems like a no-brainer. And a perk to being a member is that you can be part of the Blank Park Zoo’s Walking Club. You get in an hour early to walk and keep track of your mileage throughout the summer. So why not, right? Ben and I went strolling today around the zoo this morning, watching the animals just enter their exhibits, taking in the beautiful weather, and checking out the staff getting the zoo ready – with about 6 other people. Seriously, either no one else knows about this or no one wants to get to the zoo by 8 AM on a Thursday.
So Ben and I pretty much had the zoo to ourselves. We walked for two miles (3 laps), before other people started making their way into the zoo. Since he was such a rock star in the stroller, I thought I might as well let Ben out and do what he wants for a while. So here is the zoo through the eyes of my toddler:
1st attraction of the zoo: Did you know that your stroller comes with latches and buckles? Stare at them. Hit them together. You have seen them connect before and they will not get the best of you! Keep working on it! Your mom might try to tell you there are other things to see at the zoo, but this is more important!
Obviously, there is a force field keeping the latches apart, so move onto the next attraction – circles on the sidewalk! Faded and chipped paint never fails to delight. Run in circles! The whole area is yours to run free – and then stop and stare at the ground – and then run free – and then stop and stare at the ground – and then run free!
After you break the spin cycle, you are pointed toward the Australian section. Who cares if it’s the “exit”, go in anyway! This is where there your mom tries to explain the extra doors and plastic sheets are there to “keep the birdies in”. Ignore her. You know it’s a secret exhibit called “Ode to the Car Wash”. Run back and forth opening and shutting the gates while enjoying the plastic curtains. Make sure to test whether you can see through them and what they taste like. Your mom might say this test is unnecessary, but it’s super important.
Make sure that your best stubborn outburst of the entire day happens when you run off of the path next to a sign that says “please stay on the path”. Go to dead weight and flail just long enough for a zoo employee to start walking toward your mom to remind her that in Australia, you have to stay on the path. Then you can get up. No big deal.
Apparently adults can see prairie dogs in the next attraction. What do you see, fellow adventurer? Tunnels! Go back and forth in these tunnels for as long as possible. Squeal in delight if older kids shove past you – after all, they are hilarious!
Next up: RAMPS! Mom will keep talking about “sea lions and seals”, but you know what’s awesome? Concrete slopes of joy. Just run them. I suggest always looking behind you while you run. This technique will make the activity much more exciting when there’s always the possibility of running smack into a wall or pole. Trust me. Try it.
Yep, that was how Ben viewed that zoo this morning. You might notice that it didn’t include a single animal. Haha. We’re getting there. For the record, he did humor me and chuckle when a sea lion jumped into the water. He also tried to chase (tackle) a wallaby – hence the meltdown when I held him back. He also wanted to pet a goat….until it got too close. It will be fun to grow with him on our zoo adventures and learn about animals, but for now I will enjoy our outings to see metal in the sidewalks and opportunities to climb ramps and stairs.
