Riding in cars and more with my boy

Matthew embarks on a new toddler adventure as he enjoys the city’s different modes of public transport.

Having no car in the city can be a hassle a lot of times. It can get quite tedious and uncomfortable to get from one place to another. Add this mad summer blaze, and I’ve chosen to stay put at home and not move if I can help it.

But pressing matters forced me out of my lethargic mode the other day. Disregarding the scorching heat and with Matthew in tow, I laid out my itinerary for the day: four quick stops that should take some two to three hours. I kept my errands near enough each other, hoping that by containing them in a general area I can keep the trip stress-free.

Matthew, though, must have viewed the day in a different perspective altogether. While I was tending to a list of tasks to be crossed out, he was enjoying the different kinds of rides he was taking. A tricycle ride took us to the train station (i.e. the MRT), and another trike ride brought us to ABS. After some fifteen minutes, we were in a cab heading to the Ortigas area where the rest of my errands were. After two quick stops on Emerald Avenue, my boy was getting impatient to get going—to the mall to ride a horsey.

The last stop was in Galleria, where the Summit office is located and where I planned to take Matthew for some kiddie rides at the end of our running around. I made the mistake of telling him about the carousel too early and had him dragging and nagging me about it. Finally, we make it to his little mecca—where he changed his mind about the horsey ride. Instead he gets on the motorcycle and a car, before he noticed the toy store nearby.

I knew that it was time to head home and get the boy to bed for a nap, but I conceded to some gallivanting time in search of Thomas the Tank Engine and other sources of boyish delight. There was no easy exit for this one, though; a tired boy and his coveted toys are hellish to part. After trying reasoning and negotiating, I finally got a brilliant idea. “Matthew, do you want to ride a bus?” I proposed to the indignant child. His eyes brightened and his stiffened body stopped resisting. “A yellow one!” he told me.

We got on a green bus, though. But for my little boy, the color was insignificant. He looked more than thrilled to be on one more vehicle.

I must say, being carless isn’t too bad with a son who simply revels in the alternatives.