Zoo Crew

Written by Aunt Tonya, still waiting for pictures from Grandma Kathy ...

How many adults does it take to manage three little kids at the zoo? Well, we have answered the question: It takes no less than four! On Sunday, we attempted this experiment for ourselves at the LA Zoo. Just take a look at the supply and equipment issues: 3 car seats in one car with four adults, 1 double stroller, 3 snack bags, 2 diaper bags, 1 camera bag, 1 clothing bag with 6 jackets, 2 pillows for Ash, 2 stuffed bunnies for girls and 1 Luvie for Matt. Three stops required between Corona and LA. Upon arrival, everyone either had their hands full with a bag, a stroller or a child. Never let it be said that we do anything without being prepared!

Everyone had an incredible time, each in their own way. Kate was allowed to essentially run free. She moved from place to place without restriction ... jumping and climbing on everything in sight. Amazing to watch Kate try to read the information signs. She read by “filling in” the written words with her own facts/observations about each exhibit. When talking with her, the hippo was her favorite because she said that hippos play games by tipping over boats. (Wonder if the people that get their boats tipped on the Nile would have the same perspective.) Ashley loved the alligator family simply because she likes to play alligator games using her hands to go snap-snap.

Michael spent a good portion of the day chasing Ash through the crowd as she chased Kate. Mom, Dad or I always seemed to be chasing Matt in the opposite direction. (Note: people tend to move for a running toddler in a crowd but not for the adult that chasing them ... go figure. Just encourages the kid to run further and faster laughing all the way.) The situation became some what like herding cats. The kids would stop individually, but not collectively. A leaf here. A rock there. Muddy puddles in the garden. The list is endless.

Matt had a great time. Matt and I had to have another get-to-know-you period when we first arrived. It was too funny for words. He was happily sitting in the stroller until the flamingo exhibit where the bushes were too high for him to see. I released the front table tray on the stroller - he pulled it back in place with a frown. I unsnapped the lap restraint - he held it dropping his luvie at the same time. I got the luvie, put it on my shoulder, sat still not saying a word - he just looked at me. I sat - he looked and then decided that he could not reach luvie from his seat. He got out - I lifted him to see the birds. Issue resolved: he decided that it was much more fun to be held in my arms and be able to see the funny pink birds. Once he was comfortable being carried, we tried riding on my shoulders. He was happy as could be and sat quietly looking around until my shoulders hurt and I had to put him down. Letting Matt walk was my idea. His idea was to change this into another game of tag. Thankfully, the petting zoo was right around the corner. He did not seem to be afraid of any animal in the little zoo, even those that were twice his size. I was nervous with three kids roaming around live animals but Mike, Mom and I managed. Ash showed him how to brush the animals' coats and he did a pretty good job. No animals were harmed during this educational process. Although the animals were cool, the dirt was even more fun to kick and create dust clouds. Kate found a timid goat that she befriended.

We went on to do all the standard zoo things. We rode the tram - Ash just loves trains and sat happily. Kate sat with Mom and talked her ear off. Matt sat with Dad and me. He was so focused on watching all the new things that he sat still. Images played in my head of one or all of the kids falling off. We saw the zebras and tigers. We all had a typical junk-food lunch with not a fruit or vegetable in sight. Against my objection, Dad did make sure that Matt got milk instead of sharing my soda. We let the kids run up and down the paths and through the crowds and determine the stopping points. Ash actually found an animal that she did not like: the Kimono Dragons. Tried and tried to explain that "dragon" was just part of the name and they did not have wings to fly out of the cage. It was an attempt in vain.

We found the gorilla and young giraffe enclosure. All the kids were amazed by these two exhibits. Kate was standing at the gorilla exhibit up against the glass. Something startled a large gorilla and it charged the glass about 10 feet away from her. Obviously, Kate was then startled but recovered quickly. The funniest part was that she scolded this 300lb animal by saying "Don't do that or mommy will send you to timeout."

By late afternoon, both Matt and Ash could just go no further. The sandman was making a visit. Both opted to ride in the stroller. Binkies, luvies and pillows required. Ash's final words: "I'm not tired." Dad pushed the stroller for the next several minutes and both were fast asleep. Kate finished seeing the zoo alone which was just fine for my Prima Dona.

What did we learn? 1. Physical energy is wasted on the young - it should be given to adults, who do the majority of lifting, pushing and pulling. 2. I am old - thank God for all the helping hands. My shoulders actually hurt today. 3. A zoo visit with three kids under age five can actually be done and everyone can have a great time with precision planning. 4. The pictures will be worth a thousand words. There are enough pictures to write a novel.