This past weekend, Ellie was invited to a birthday party for a little boy she knows from daycare. It was at McDonalds. I had never been to a party at McDonalds prior to this, so I didn’t really know what to expect. I knew, of course, that it would be in the play area (which we have only recently introduced Ellie to) and that it would be a chore to try and convince her that eating was the thing to do when there was much playing to be done…

All went well…and in the end, she had the best time of her little life. There was only one occurrence of someone having to go in after her…Thanks Heather. In my present state, there was no way I was climbing in after my crying child…although the thought did cross my mind for a brief second…and while Nathan was deciding whether she’d stop crying on her own or not, Heather ripped off her shoes and climbed right in. Thank goodness for moms who worry when they can’t see crying children, just like I do.

I’ve also decided that I need one of these things for my house. One, look at the joy on her face when she came down that slide…

and Two, think of the containment factor.

This could be the answer we all look for. Just close off that sucker and let her play in a nice, plastic enclosed space. Sounds like a winner to me, after a very long winter with very few outside play days!