She's A Monster

This morning I took the kids to the (ONLY!!) indoor play gym in town. We hadn't been there for nearly a year but Sam recognized it right away. He took off and jumped right in to the fun. For the first few minutes Matilda was stunned. I watched her wander from toy to toy. She'd touch a car and then blankly veer off to the blocks.

There is a fairly impressive play structure that is just like any jungle gym on an elementary school playground. Next to it is an entire area for toddlers with tunnels and climbers safely on the floor. I steered Matilda to the toddler area. She laughed when she went through the tunnel but then she was done. She was dead-set on getting on the jungle gym.

I felt sick to my stomach as I followed her. I did NOT want her trying to climb it. I have to make a conscious effort to give my kids room to explore. Matilda found the stairs and started climbing up. Four- and five-year-olds were walking over her. I nervously ran around the structure, trying to block what I judged to be the biggest opening at each level. At the top her little toes were pointed directly at my eyes. She had reached the opening to the tall spiral slide.

She knew exactly what to do. She managed to sit down and tried to scoot herself forward. I took her hand and helped her go down. The second her feet hit the floor she started wailing. Every parent in the place turned to see what was going on. She was crying like she was seriously hurt but I'm her mom and I knew exactly what was happening. She was furious that the slide had ended.

I managed to guide Matilda back to the stairs time and time again. Each time I held my breath as she climbed up, maneuvering her little arms and legs around climbers that Sam won't try, and made her way to the slide. On her third trip down she started to flop onto her stomach and zip down head first. And every single time she was off the slide she screamed and cried like her heart was breaking. I thought she'd start to chill out after the 15th time but she never got over how much she disliked having her fun come to an end.

Matilda, the 13-month-old monster, has conquered the largest slide at the play gym. I'm going to have to find some more activities to keep her happy. Bungee jumping, perhaps?