running errands with a toddler is super fun!

like, SUPER fun.

after work/childcare today, i had to go to the post office to mail some packages. does anyone else dread going to the post office, or is it just me? i had put off going for a few days and really needed to bite the bullet and send off these packages.

and of course, the only time i had to go today was after picking up choi boy from our childcare provider's house. aka, naptime.

YAY!

you know where this is going, right?

actually, considering it was nearly nap time, choi boy did really well. it was everything else that made this particular trek to the post office super fun.

super fun detail #1: i forgot the stroller, natch. and choi boy did NOT want to be carried. and he *insisted* (read: screamed and cried) that he bring his soccer ball with him into the post office. as expected, the soccer ball fell out of choi boy's grip and into the parking lot. three times. it might have been the slowest walk from the car to the post office ever.

we finally get in and the post office dude sees us and (very nicely) says, "hey! you ready to play soccer?!" and i smile tightly and say, "oh, don't tempt him!" of course, before the words could get out of my mouth, choi boy drops the soccer ball and kicks it. high. into this old guy's legs.

i apologize, scoop up the ball and choi boy and head off to get the priority mail packaging i need and address the packages. i totally should have done one of those fancy print-at-home things the post office commericals are always bragging about, but i hadn't thought this all through beforehand. clearly! ;)

so, here i am, writing out the addresses, choi boy propped up on the wide ledge and my left hand and shoulder holding on to him so he wouldn't fall. i gave him a pen and scrap paper so he could draw. and he did. except not on the paper. he thought it was more fun to draw on his legs and on his shorts (and in his defense, it *is*!). and then choi boy coughs. and i'm not looking at him because i'm addressing those stupid packages. and then cb says, "jee-jee!" (yucky in korean). i look at him and see that he has coughed up/spit up a bit of his lunch and its on his face and shirt. and of course, i didn't bring a diaper bag, so i have nothing to wipe it with. except my shirt. which i then wiped with a post office brochure. don't worry, i threw away the post office brochure.

we finally get in line, the soccer ball now stowed safely in my purse, but i can't carry choi boy and the packages simultaneously. and of course, the instant i let go of choi boy's hand to grab my wallet, he darts off laughing hysterically and heads for the door. i leave my wallet open in front of the post office lady and chase him down and hold him in my left arm while finishing everything with my right. meanwhile, the (very nice) post office lady says, "you want to play catch with me? throw me the ball!" oh, dear. (hi. what's up with these super friendly postal workers?? i thought they were all disgruntled, no?) thankfully, at this point, choi boy wasn't much into sharing, and shook his head and buried it into my shoulder.

and with that, we left.

phew!

i totally looked like a crazy, frazzled lady today.

and as we drove off (with choi boy promptly falling asleep within minutes of being strapped in his car seat), i had two lingering thoughts:

1. all of that, ALL of those crazy shenanigans, were not choi boy's fault. they were mine for being not prepared. cb did what was normal for him and i was the crazy that didn't have a stroller or wipes or wasn't prepared with those fancy print-at-home labels. lesson learned. fo sho.

and

2. i TOTALLY *get* why people have child leashes now. totally. still won't get one, but i definitely won't judge you if you do. promise.



oh, and a bonus lesson for you...this smile:

forgives all. seriously.

(i know i *just* posted that picture, but i canNOT get enough of it. i stare at it many times a day. sigh.)