Now that I’m living amid stacks and stacks of boxes, I’ve come to embrace leaving the house with two small children. We used to do it every day, to head to a Strong Start preschool near our house. That ended after the 15th time going there to find that parents were bringing their visibly ill children to school and getting their germy hands on everything. Since going to the school, we’ve gotten sick about every second trip, so I stopped. Then I felt bad and started going again, last week…the week before we move and then go on a two week road trip. Guess what? Yup…sick again. Last time I ever go there.

Parents everywhere hear this: Please, for the sake of every living person alive, do not take your sick child into public. It’s not good for your kids and it’s not good for anyone else. Braving going to work may be one thing (although just as bad) but heading out to “mommy and me” events dragging your snot dripping infant/toddler is so not cool.

Rant over.

In any case, I had an opportunity to head out of the house, drive a million miles away (45 minutes) and head to the most amazing park in Victoria, the legendary Beacon Hill. Here is where most tourists to our fine city must go. If not for the vistas of the ocean as you stroll along it’s high cliffs, then for the duck ponds, flowers, and petting zoo. The whole park is also overrun with peacocks, and whenever I hear their haunting call I am brought back to my childhood. I used to visit this park every summer with my favourite aunt and I still think of her today whenever I go.

On a sunny morning between rain breaks, I took the kids for a little stroll to visit with the animals. The resident park dwellers are pretty friendly and most (squirrels, ducks, geese, etc.) will come right up to you.

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