Rookie Dad: The problem with sprinklers

Saturday was a big production for The Youngling. She finally got to play with a toddler much closer to her age outside of our house. I don't really know if she was excited but based on how soundly she slept as we drove to our friends' house, she was thrilled.

In preparation for this big summer outdoor playdate, we even went the extra mile and had her practice up because based on the weather forecast for Saturday, it was going to be warm. Practice wasn't some grueling marathon or a series of wind sprints or even something like painting her nails. Practice consisted solely of running through the sprinkler. As easy as that sounds, a 19 month-old isn't exactly willing to run through rather chilling water flying at her.

Practice didn't go well. Following far too many minutes of shrieking, screaming and downright bawling, it was time for her to hit the showers and focus on Saturday's big event.

Once the kids had played for a couple hours on Saturday, it was time for the sprinkler. My friend and fellow dad dutifully drug the hose in to the back yard while the kids were changed in to their swim wear. I hoped for the best but I'm a realist so I knew to expect crying, screaming, shrieking and general anti-water behavior.

I was right. The older kids - mainly 3-5 year olds - splashed, ran, stomped, giggled and thrashed about as the sprinkled slowly turned a portion of the lawn in to something akin to a mud wrestling pit but the majority of the kids kept right on playing while The Youngling shied away from such excitement but slowly got more curious.

In the end she never ventured in to the streams of the sprinkler. Maybe next year things will change but she has won this round.