The torture of the arboretum

My partner in parenting and I both got off work a little early due to the holiday. We went to the arboretum this evening because it was family night. Of course the boy was emphatically opposed to even the thought of going. He has no idea what it even is.

Me: "We're going to the Arboretum."
Boy: "I don't want to go to the arboreruam"
PIP: "It's a park"
Boy: "I don't want to go to the park!"
Better half: "This is going to be really fun."
Boy: "I don't want to have fun, I just want to play trains."

So of course we force him into his car seat. And take him anyway.
Before we even leave the driveway.

Boy:"It's too far"

Uh huh. Is this all two year old or just ours?

It really is a great place to take the kid. It has water features, slides, bridges, tunnels. Everything little kids could ask for. Since it was family night there was a performer doing kids songs and was very interactive. I could have done without the bugs, but hey, there are worse things in life.

 
 

He, of course, had the time of his life and didn't want to leave. He would not ride in the stroller. He wanted his mom to carry him. She's 7 months pregnant.

Me: "Do you want to walk or ride in the stroller?"
Boy:"I just want mom to carry me." - instant tantrum
Me and PIP: "You need to walk or ride in the stroller." "Please stop crying."

Eventually we were closer to the parking lot and he was OK with me carrying him.

When we got to the car -

Boy: "I did not have fun!"