The family walk

Claire, our three and a half year old middle child is very competitive these days. One evening we had the bright idea of getting away from the TV and out into the fresh air. Fixed on the grand plan, the Bennett’s were going on a family walk and nothing could stop us.
A half an our later, Kath and I were exhausted and a little damp from the exertion. Still determined, we finally rounded up the cast and wrestled them into their shoes.
Fifteen minutes later Molly, our two year old, screamed for us to go as she sat in her umbrella stroller, Patrick our six year old was still protesting about the dumb old walk and Claire struck out in the lead, determined to beat everyone around the block.
“Okay, we’re out numbered but it isn’t hopeless,” I said turning to my wife.
My beautiful bride Kathleen rolled her eyes and used her big girl voice. The birds flew from their perches, the neighborhood children stopped their games, the townspeople locked their houses but our troops responded and order was once again established.
Keep in mind that it’s been about 45 minutes since we hatched our grand idea to go for an after dinner walk. We are still in our driveway with Molly in her stroller, Patrick just down the walkway on his bike, and Claire half a block away and still running. “I want to win.” we could still hear her voice trailing away.
A while later and only a quarter of the way our children were having their second melt down.
“I wanted to win,” cried Claire (I mean really crying, big tears and all). She threw her arms around me.
“Go, go, go,” screamed Molly, upset that we had stopped her stroller ride.
I looked at Patrick who was beaming proudly after beating his sister in a bike against runner race.
“Claire, he’s on a bike and you’re running. I really don’t think you are going to win.”
Claire began to jump the way three year olds do when the world comes to an end. “I want to win for three whole weeks.”
Kath and I looked to one another for an explanation. Not finding one we just laughed.
There were several more races that Claire lost and Patrick had no idea he was involved in. Molly continued to encourage forward progress, while Patrick resumed his inspection of each and every fire hydrant along the way.
Though outnumbered and clearly outwitted, we parents still brave the family walks. It’s a time of learning and growing, talking and explaining, and making up. We look forward to our next adventure.