I don’t have kids. None of my family members or friends with children lives near me. Let’s just put that out there. I have two cats that I don’t bring to McDonald’s. This weekend I experienced play land at McDonald’s. It was a week and a half hours of torture interesting experiences.

I have been to one of these places once, I think. It would have been years ago with a child younger than 7 years old. There are a few things I don’t remember. The first is the screaming. I seriously don’t remember that. Nope, I am sure it didn’t occur. The second is the complete danger and mayhem of the place. I mean really? There shoul

angry mob (Photo credit: Robert Couse-Baker)

d be referees. On one hand it is interesting to look at intellectually. Truly, you can see the stand off’s between big kids and small. The different stress reactions, interpersonal interactions and how coördinated the kids are at the different ages are all fascinating to observe. Truly learning experience from that point of view, but let’s discuss the other point of view for a moment.

The other perspective is the one of “childless” aunt. Sweet Mother! I was twitching by the end. I believe I lost hearing after the two or twenty hours we were there. Seriously I can’t tell you how long we were in that place. I think what I found amazing is that every parent and grandparent there was otherwise occupied. How do they do that? Jenn was crocheting. Me? Oh I had brought a note-book and my kindle. Who was I kidding? I couldn’t write anything. I tried. I picked up my pen several times, but there was no thought to go with that action.

*Okay maybe a plea for help, but I didn’t think that was appropriate. *

How did all of those people block out the noise? Is a genetic thing that takes place once you have had children? Jenny was talking me in a normal voice. Unless I could read her lips to get a clue as to what was being said I ended up screaming “WHAT?” because my brain was shutting down. She heard all of my responses. It was incredible. I mean how can she do that? She listened to loud music in the 80’s just like I did. Where does this super hearing come from? My next question is how do they think? I mean how do block out the overwhelming mayhem occurring all around you and read? Honestly my PTSD stared to kick in. That was one of the longest periods of my life, but also seemed to go by quickly…. Like any traumatic event. There was slow motion that was followed by life flashing before my eyes.

To all of you parents and grandparents bravo! How you pull off that experience is beyond me. Unless of course there are tranquilizers in those bags that you all carry around.

Peace and blessings!