It’s easier just to stay home

Summer’s here at the Jersey Shore! There’s so much going on in our community, even within walking distance. This weekend is River Fest in Red Bank, an outdoor jazz and food festival. On this beautiful, sunny day, we opted against River Fest and took Hugo to run around Flowering Field Farm, my dad’s farm, instead.

I didn’t want to worry about chasing Go through the crowds at the festival, watching him like a hawk to make sure he didn’t push or hit any other kids. Grabbing him to keep him safe from pedestrian traffic, cars, or falling in the river. Holding tight when he would inevitably melt down and throw a tantrum because I wasn’t allowing some dangerous or inappropriate behavior. I didn’t want to negotiate him into the stroller for the long walk on dangerously trafficked roads, then have to worry about how to get him back into the stroller when it was time to come home.

So we went to the farm, where he could see the goats, run around, play in dirt and stay safe. Yet he found a way to climb dangerously on the tractor his grandpa let him sit on, disrespect the property (and antiques) of my stepmom up in the flower workshop, and melt down when I put my foot down and said it’s time to go.

This is why we never go anywhere. Isn’t it just easier to stay at home?