Rolling solo at the Zoo (and panicking the staff)

One day when Andrea was working I decided to take the kids to the zoo on my own. The San Francisco Zoo is free for kids under four, and on top of that we were gifted a membership so it was totally free, other than the $10 for parking.

Obviously the zoo presents its own challenges, but I figured we don’t have to see the whole damn thing, just hang out at the playground for a while and check out a few animals and bounce. For the most part, that plan worked.  Of course, three kids in diapers means diaper changes, and that’s where I ran in to an issue. I have to change Una’s diaper, but it’s not like I can run into the bathroom leaving the other two kids to fend for themselves outside. I’m pretty cool with them running around a playground, even if I lose sight of them here and there, but I’m not locking myself in a room expecting them to patiently wait for me.

So, I thought, let me just get out of the main path (as I don’t want to expose random visitors to this) but still where I’m within sight and earshot of the kids. I get around the corner, realize that damn, this was a huger, I have to change the pants and everything. Meanwhile Verity is just right around the corner, I can hear her and she is answering when I call. She’s looking at the lovebirds. Pax is where I can see him, checking out the meerkats. So I’m feeling comfortable.

After dealing with this especially nasty change, the first thing I do is rush over to find Verity. And about 7 zoo employees surrounding her in a full blown panic. She’s just chilling watching the lovebirds, but the staff is going wild on radio trying to figure out what to do with this “lost” child. I gently pick her up, everyone slowly realizes that the kid’s ok. I explain that I was changing her sister’s diaper, over there, 15 feet away.

I suppose I’m happy the zoo staff was so proactive with a kid, but also, the world is not compatible for the 1 on 3 lifestyle. I feel like every decision involves a quick risk assessment. I would have been in an insane panic if they took my girl somewhere, before even walking around the immediate area asking if this is my kid. That thought is frightening. I’m still not sure what I could have done differently, other than changing the nasty diaper right on the main path of the zoo patrons. Maybe that’s the move next time.

Also, in that time, Verity pooped too. So I had to immediately do the exact same thing again. Sigh.