
we live in the city... close to downtown, near plenty of parks, close to 3 major malls, and close enough to dive into lake Michigan... a person shouldn't be bored here in milwaukee... so you'd think finding things to do with the kids would be easy, right?! i guess this would be the case for a mom who can tolerate public tantrums, who allows her kids to run the show, and who will shut her whiny kids up with candy and soda... but i'm not one of those moms and i have
little tolerance for misbehavior... i love my kids dearly but if they are going to whine in the store, NONE of us are going to have a good time so why even go?! if my kids are moody,
we stay home...

last summer was a challenge for me... i had a new lil baby who was too small to run around outside... and i had a toddler who challenged my authority and patience... we'd go to a park for HIM to enjoy, and he'd end the day with a tantrum, leaving us both in tears... if we were to leave the park, he'd hide in the playground tunnel or run off... one time he ran off from me and i had isabella in my arms... i ended up tripping in the sand and taking a tumble with isabella... embarrassed, hurt, and angry, we left that park a mess... carrying BOTH kids, i must have looked like a rookie mom... i learned that sticking close to the house with the two was easier on us all instead of trying to please diego and being rewarded with a tantrum....

i remained consistent with discipline and rules... if we go to a park, there is no crying when its time to go... the child must listen to the parent or they will forfeit future trips to that park [not forever though but long enough]... if you can't behave in public, we won't go to big places.... now, i sound strict but i will not end up with a 12yr old boy and girl giving me lip about them wanting something and whining because they can't get it... diego has learned and i am sure isabella will too, when the time comes... it has saved us all alot of headaches, tears, and frustrations...

so anyway, i DO like taking them to fun places and have waited a long time to take them to some of the cool spots here in town... like the
betty brinn children's museum... it's a place where they can touch EVERYTHING and interact and play and have fun... it was fun for ME even!! i warned diego not to cry if we had to go and that he had to listen.... i told him not to talk to strangers and to be on his best behavior...
and that he did :) there was so much for both kids to do and explore... tunnels of the body's digestive system, a place to mix music... a place to dance... a place to color... a place to play loud music... a place to play pretend... you could learn how an ambulance works, how to shop, how to milk a cow, how the newsroom works!!

the bathrooms were kid friendly, the place wasn't packed with bratty kids, and it was small enough to not lose your kid and freak out... both kids had a blast and i tried to take a bazillion photos but most are of the back of their head...
there are more photos in my flickr site... we didn't even get to have the actual "learning" experience of the museum where you read the signs and ask your kid questions... i doubt diego knew that the red slide was part of the digestive tract... but it is still learning by experimenting, touching, seeing, playing, and having fun....

we will go there again... especially since both children didn't cry a wink.... so much for them to do and touch that it made the event such a blast.... i can't wait to take them to the zoo next....
yes, we are going to have a fun summer...