Who said you lose spontaneity?

Before I had kids, everyone told me just "how much!" my life will change when I have them, a fact I never doubted. Many told me my days of globe trotting and international adventure traveling were over - I just ignored them. I met enough parents (including Americans) traveling with children of all ages (1 up to teenagers) to know that my ability to travel has more to do with how I set my priorities than with whether I have kids.

Another thing I was frequently told, by our childbirth instructor and by friends, was that having kids doesn't mean you can't do things; it just means the end of spontaneity. Well, I beg to differ. Of course, it depends on your definition of spontaneity and what it is you want to do, but yesterday was a good example for me of what I have NOT lost. It was the Fourth of July, and we weren't going to battle the crowds and the heat to see fireworks that evening, but I wanted to do *something* in the late afternoon. Darrell had a headache, so I suggested to my mom that we go to South Congress and check out the food stands and the artisan market. She said okay.

So, I grabbed my Sleepy Wrap baby carrier, the diaper bag and the baby, and we were out the door in five minutes. We parked and headed to the Mighty Cone food stand, a place I've always wanted to try, and I ordered an awesome shrimp and avocado cone of goodness. Then we checked out the arts market - not terribly interesting - and then I asked my mom if she wanted to grab a drink before we headed home. We stopped in at South Congress Cafe and decided to go ahead and get a table to order a couple drinks and some appetizers. Little Darrell awoke while we waited for the baked brie and seafood/ceviche parfair, so I nursed him from my Sleepy Wrap in our booth.

The food was awesome, the margarita was great (and not too big fortunately), and it was an overall nice little outing. We returned home, and my stir-craziness was gone. Now, this was obviously not a very elaborate outing, but I guess I don't ask for much with my "spontaneity." As far as I'm concerned, my spontaneous little desires are just as easily satisfied now as they were before. We'll see if that changes as he grows older.