One of the ongoing challenges in my life is finding stuff for all of us to enjoy as a family (well, that and laying off carbs, but that's a whole other story). Max has come a long way in dealing with crowds; still, they unsettle him. It takes him a while to get used to somewhere new, and we often have to visit several times before he'll go without wailing. Some places like sports arenas are off-limits, no matter what kind of sound-blocking earphones he's got on. Although Max loves Chuck E. Cheese's, one of the most insane places on the planet. Go figure.
Family outings have been known to leave me in tears too. It's a combination of the screeching, which gets under my skin, and the ache to be more like families around us who seem to be effortlessly having a good time. I want to go somewhere and not have to contend with meltdowns, stares or a shattered Sunday afternoon.
The beach is our haven, one of the few places where we can all kick back. There's no angst or drama, other than when the kids want to have a third round of ice-cream and yes, we let them have two. Max adores a beach a couple of hours from home that we discovered a few years ago.
The fun starts with the drinking fountain at the entryway. Then there's a long, wheelchair-accessible ramp to zoom down to the beach on.
This time, I brought along a couple of kites I'd grabbed at CVS, where they were on sale for a buck each. I got Max got a Lightning McQueen one, and he thought I was The Best Mommy Ever.
I was so thrilled to see him holding the kite on his own and lifting an arm up high, no easy feat because both of them tend to be stiff from the CP.
Max was mesmerized.
One guess as to which kind of kite Sabrina got.
Drum roll, please...
Monsieur SpongeBob, of course.
On the beach, we're all at ease. Dave and Max like to just stand on the surf and let the waves wash over their feet.
Max told me he was spelling "Sleep at C's house."
I get to take lots of pictures, a hobby I don't always have much time for. I am obsessed with Sabrina's little hands, which still have dimples where knuckles should be. I'm always kissing them.
