Today I took my 15-month-old son to the doctor for his check-up. The visit started out fine with my three kids amusing themselves with the toys in the waiting room. I did have to retrieve my little guy a few times as he wandered beyond the waiting area in pursuit of greater adventures. But for the most part everything was under control. Then we were called back and escorted to the tiny little room where the nurse weighs the little people, and left there for what seemed an eternity.

It was a room about the size of a small walk-in closet with one chair, which of course my 6-year-old and 4-year-old claimed (at least they were sharing). So my toddler, the umbrella stroller, and I had to fend for ourselves. Perhaps you can guess who dominated and set the tone for the whole experience. Yes, my littlest guy soon tired of playing with the lone toy he found on a bottom shelf, and moved on to scattering pamphlets across the floor as I followed behind him. The umbrella stroller sat there empty, helplessly unwanted and scorned by my boy. Next my toddler found the cabinets, curiously not child-proofed, and made a game of trying to open them while I held them shut – over and over and over. After all that fun he headed toward the trash can, but I was too quick for him. Back to shuffling and scattering pamphlets. I didn't feel too bad about making a mess, as I reasoned someone should have done a better job of making this tiny room in a pediatrician's office more kid-friendly.

After our time had been served, the kind nurse returned, weighed my active toddler, and sent us across the hall to the examining room. By this point my little one was over this whole experience and was ready to go (plus it was past nap time and snack time), so he kept me on my toes trying to amuse, entertain, and prevent catastrophe for the remainder of our visit as we waited for the nurse, the doctor, and the nurse again. After two hours, we finally emerged from the doctor's office – tattered, exhausted, hungry, and needing to use a bathroom (and that was just me), but victorious! I am the mommy!