If you can do it here...you can do it anywhere.

Today we decided to make it a family day and go to the Bronx Zoo. Wednesdays are pay what you want days, we paid $1. Since the oil companies are no longer asking for just an arm or leg at the thank, but instead for your first-born child for gas, AND since they raised the toll to cross the bridge, we we opted to take the 5-express train- $2 each way. (Side note- what is the real reason gas prices are so ridiculous? We've tried to research but can't find any real explanation, plus how are they getting away with this?)

Anyway, I headed into the city early to stop at a casting for Leah and then meet Doug at his school. She is becoming extremely independent and hates to be in the stroller, as you can imagine, I don't feel entirely safe with her running around on the subway platform or on the moving train. I put my mean foot down until we were seated in the train and then I let her sit next to me. She was content for about 30 seconds then wanted to run around. I put my meaner foot down and said she could either sit on the bench or in her stroller. What followed was one of the most publically humiliating and character strengthening experiences I've ever had: our first HUGE toddler tantrum. Screaming, kicking, throwing, and all the fun that goes with that. Luckily it was only lunch time so it wasn't TOO busy. Basically there was nothing I could do but just let her throw her fit. Surprisingly I was very calm and quite frankly couldn't care less what people thought. The looks I got were piercing but what is a "your-too-young-to-be-a-MOTHER" to do? When we finally reached our stop, I scooped my toddler off the seat, grabbed my stroller and said, "By everyone, I'm two years old" and waived Leah's hand for her.

Nice huh? It gets worse. I met up with Doug, almost ready to turn back but finding comfort in his company. Not a minute after we get on the train to head up to the Zoo, we realized Paige had the blowout of the century. We didn't have a change of clothes and our wipes supply was limited. Doug performed an amazing diaper change on the subway, which included a completely naked baby and throwing her poop filled onesie and diaper on the floor.

We finally reached the Zoo and ended up having a pretty good day. It's good that we can look back and just laugh at it. Someone told us before we moved here that if you can't do it (live, work, etc) in New York you can't do it anyway but with experiences like this, it's definitely the other way around.