A Happy Accident
For several months, I had been taking @little-ricky to a play area in a local mall, and I always parked in the same parking structure. On one particular day, there was construction happening in my usual spot, so I had to search for an alternative. I ended up circling the mall until I reached the other side, where I knew there was a large parking lot.
However, when I arrived, the parking lot was entirely occupied by the most enormous inflatable bouncy castles I had ever laid eyes on. At that moment, I realized it was too late to take Ricky to his usual play area inside the mall. He had already spotted these gigantic, brightly colored marvels and was pointing and cheering in amazement.
It was evident at that moment what our next couple of hours would entail. Of course, I was roped in at this point and couldn't change my mind; even after seeing the entry price of $25! Fortunately, Ricky got in for free due to his age, but I had to shell out for myself. I couldn't help but wonder how many adults without small children ventured into this place.
Once we'd removed our shoes, we quickly leaped into the largest castle first. The selection of bouncy houses was quite extensive, with some extra small ones primarily occupied by the tiniest toddlers. However, my son had no interest in those.
Sadly for me, these were all open-air setups, subjecting my skin to the relentless sun beating down. Ricky, on the other hand, appeared completely unfazed, thanks to the towering inflated obstacles that offered him a bit of shade. By the time our visit came to an end, I was undoubtedly sporting a rather sun-kissed and sweaty complexion.
One of the most challenging aspects was ensuring I didn't lose sight of Ricky within the mazes. If he had slipped out of the bouncy house, there was a real risk of him darting away, making it incredibly difficult to locate him. Consequently, I found myself practically sprinting the entire time to ensure he remained within my sight.
We must have spent around two hours in there, although it certainly felt closer to five. The heat has a way of making me unusually drowsy during prolonged exposure. Fortunately, my son was equally exhausted. All that running around left him more than ready for a nap.
As a matter of fact, the moment he settled into his car seat, he was out like a light. It was indeed a relief, a small miracle, to say the least!
I would really appreciate your support!
