Killing two birds with one...

oh wait, maybe "killing" isn't the word to use - unless you're talking about my back... 

This morning I decided that we were going to be EFFICIENT and while walking to school we would satisfy one of P's scout requirements by picking up litter on the way.  Nobody was very excited about the prospect but I left the house armed with a backpack with gloves, trash bags, and a water bottle.  M was happy to come along for the walk as long as she could bring "checkers bunny" and a little pet rock who doesn't have a name but is the younger sibling (sometimes sister, sometimes brother) of "Rocky" (always a girl).  

Well, about 1 1/2 houses up the hill (still a mile from the school) M tells me "my knees are getting sleepy" and this is where I should have seen it comin' - but no... not me, we truck up to the intersection where we meet the neighbor and let her knees have a little rest.  Out comes the neighbor with her twins in a stroller and we are off like a herd of turtles...  very determined turtles who happen to be picking up trash!

It doesn't take long before one of the pieces of trash puts a small hole in the bottom of the bag which then releases a steady stream of someone's discarded Hawaiian Punch and other unpleasant liquids - but P carries on with a grimace on his face.  By the time we crossed the main intersection (about halfway to the school) M was DONE.  She wasn't moving, she wasn't even standing anymore - every once in awhile she would go about two sidewalk squares ahead (to see something I was pointing out) but now I am wishing I had never prompted even one extra forward step.

After a long rest the neighbor had caught up (after going all the way to the school and delivering my children for me) and it was time to go home...  it's all downhill so M should be happy right?  Oh no, now she is sitting on the sidewalk and refusing to move a muscle... especially those muscles which cause the corners of her mouth to turn up.  This could get ugly.  Despite much begging I finally picked her up with the agreement that I would carry her until we got to the red car and then she could walk to the corner where I would carry her again until another red car showed up.  Thinking we would turn this into a learning opportunity we discussed the color of each car along the way:  "Is that a red car?"  no, it's black  "Is that a red car?"  no, it's silver  "Is that a red car?"  (it WAS)  no, it's green.  Suddenly my daughter is colorblind as well as lazy.  If you could have seen the grin on her face when she was insisting each red car we saw was actually green, you wouldn't worry about her intelligence as much!  She did get put down a number of times - and occasionally took a few steps, but mostly I was glad for neighbors with more patience than I was in possession of this morning.  We spent a lot of "rest breaks" in the shade waiting for me to feel able to cart around a 4 year old again.  Amazingly, about 3 houses from home she got a burst of energy and began to run down the hill - which lasted up until she was told that No, it is a little too early to go bugging A if she can play!

So now you know why my back is killing me - and I'm going to take a moment to have gratitude for Ibuprofen.

Tomorrow, I'm staying home and letting her brain rot in front of the television - take THAT you educational opportunities!

Update!  Tomorrow we will try again - with stroller along, some books on tape, and her very own water bottle - I need the exercise!