The No Good, Very Bad Day

I have to share a wonderful experience Lukey and I had at the Houston Zoo splash pad yesterday, so that any time your child does something that forces you to do something embarrassing in public you can think about this and decide yours isn't so bad. (with the exception of you, Wheelers, I doubt anything can top some of Caleb's antics) 

Next to the splash pad there are some very nice changing rooms for your changing convenience, and after splashing around for a while Luke decided to go check those out by himself. Before I could dash over there, he had locked himself in an empty stall and was happily playing inside. Unfortunately for me, the doors to the stalls go down far enough to the ground that it's a bit too small for an adult and the walls went up about ten feet (for all of those ten foot tall patrons out there). After several minutes of hearing "Hi, mama!" and "I locked the door!" coming from inside with clearly no attempts at unlocking it, I was forced to clamber over the ten foot wall with the aid of some other moms. I was not happy, let me tell you. 

Not. Happy.

But Luke sure was! He was sitting on the bench, kicking his feet, and seemed not the least bit concerned when I gave him a stern talking to in the most level voice I could manage. The conversation went a bit like this. 

Angry Mama: "Luke, mama is not happy. You are in big trouble."

Happy Luke: "Okay!"

Angry Mama: "We are going to have a time out in here."

Happy Luke: "Okay! I locked the door!"

While I counted to make the timeout official, Luke kept enjoying and admiring his surroundings (my bad, should have taken him out of his sanctuary). Every once in a while a brief look of confusion would cross his face as he would turn to look up at the ceiling, no doubt wondering where I had dropped down from. 

After the timeout we went back out and I gave him two more chances to go play (he kept headed for those darn doors!) before we had to leave. On our way out the splash pad attendants were laughing and called him their little buddy (did I mention he had also tried to escape the splash pad several times before this happened? had to be run down by the attendants). 

Sitting here writing this I can't help laughing as I remember it, but honestly at the time I think I was slightly insane. I don't really remember thanking the moms who gave me a leg up over the wall or what anybody said to me as we came out, I don't remember if this caused a scene (I guess enough of a scene that another mom thankfully took pictures) or if there was a crowd or something gathered around and I think it took a few minutes before I started really paying attention to anyone other than Luke. Honestly, how have we not all been committed?