In an effort to get the wiggles (or lately, crankies) out, we’ve been exploring a bunch of indoor play options, and I’ve got to say it has really increased my appreciation for our location. The Shoreline recreational center is five minutes from our house. We had the entire shallow end of the pool to ourselves last week- and enjoyed an amazingly toddler-exhausting hour and a half of swimming. Best $1.90 I’ve spent! Then we discovered that the same center offers an “open gym” every day from 9:30-11:30. A huge two court gym filled with bikes, cars, balls of all sizes, little hoops, slides, and huge soft climbing blocks for your kid’s enjoyment. Scotland was so excited to return today that he happily got ready with incredible speed- and even started asking how he could help me hurry along! He was in heaven the whole time- speeding about on the plasma bikes, puttering along in the cars, playing on the teeter-totter with a newly made friend, and just plain running, running, running. Meanwhile, I chatted away with my own newly made friend, delighted with a bit more adult conversation.
Tuesdays, we go to “school” which is a free play and learn center walking distance from our house. The “facilitator” prepares three craft tables- this week one table had play dough with buttons and lids to play with, the other more conventional play dough tools, and the third a table with scissors, dot paints and glue. There’s a sand table (the most popular attraction), tons of educational toys, and a gross motor room. The class ends with circle time consisting of snacks, songs and a book.
Tuesday’s also offer “story time” at the library. Which is impressively led by a woman who includes a letter of the week, puppets, the reading of several books and singing of several songs. It ends with a stamp- which is a surprising delightful to Scotland.
(I like taking advantage of these city services, because then when tax season rolls around I remember all the amazing services I enjoy and am less likely to complain.)
All of these take place minutes from our house.

Suddenly aware of the end of our health insurance period, I rushed about to schedule dentist and eye appointments. I found both just minutes from our house. Our new pediatricians office- only seven minutes away.
Americans spend so much time in the car, and I just love that my location allows me to minimize that time, and perhaps do away with it all together when I’m in biking shape again!
I can’t help but proactively rejoice at the variety of activities that will make my transition into parenting two easier. When he is surrounded by other kids and lots of activities I doubt he’ll mind that I need to stand on the sidelines with baby brother. (It’s clearly a tactic taken by many mothers around here, because there are a ton of women at the end of their pregnancies- and mothers with new babies at open gym!)
I feel so blessed that, unbeknownst to us, we planted ourself in an area rich with opportunities and services. Not only that, but I continue to be impressed by the warmth and kindness of the people I meet here. Shoreline is a lovely place to live.