a day at the park

This morning after hours of playing, and wrestling, and throwing, and diapers, and waffles for breakfast, the best boys asked for "pahk pleazz!" "Ya, ah play-GROUND!" "in dah waggin'!" How do you say no? It's beautiful out, so I got them dressed, Baduka grabbed a lion puppet, and off we went.

When we got there, a little boy and his dad were the only two at the park. I love times like that. The maniacs get to run, and do whatever they want, and I don't have to worry about them breaking a stranger's baby with their not great social/play skills.

This lasted about ten minutes before I heard the gate squeal open, and a daycare poured in. I immediately went into "let's leave" mode. The boys weren't having it. I can't blame them, we hadn't even been there long enough for them to break a sweat. So I stood on guard and let them play.

I am so glad I did.

Many times I worry, that with all the fighting and wrestling and general insanity they create for each other at home, that they don't really like each other in real life. Then times like today happen, and I catch myself smiling that stupid kind of smile, that you couldn't make go away if you tried.

Baduka, Dizzy, and The New Kid ran around, and through, and over, and under the other kids. They showed that they may not play like them, but they waited their turns, and didn't cause any bloodshed. No pushing or fighting.

The truly best part was that they looked out for each other. They would separate, and return to each other. The New Kid would come to me and ask where one of the others were. Then run off giggling and smiling to them. They held hands, and hugged. Baduka helped pick Dizzy up when he fell, and kissed his head. They all took turns pushing the lion puppet in the baby swing. Laughing together as they pushed.

And in those moments, as I stood watching my best boys playing in the middle of a noisy daycare park trip, I smiled and thought to myself, that they may not have the same set of social skills, and they may not play like the other kids, but they are forming a friendship that lasts well beyond waggin' rides to the pahk for the play-GROUND.

I really can't ask for anything more perfect than three lifelong best friends, now can I?