Everyone walks to the beat of their own drum.

The beautiful weather we've been having in Nebraska the past couple days has urged us to go outside as much as possible.  The past couple days we've put "Gone to the park" signs on the door, loaded up the stroller with diapers, wipes, &  an 18 mo old and headed to the park.  Now we have quite a jaunt to the park but the kiddos are true troopers.  As I pushed the stroller today in the back of the line I made some interesting observations.  Maybe it's just my kiddos but the pictures in catalogs or magazines of groups of children out for a walk seem to be staged.  
First of all it's impossible for them to pair up. Two just isn't enough.  Our town needs much wider sidewalks to accommodate the groups of three, or four or five kids. We finally compromise on three kids.   Our walk begins.  My visions of a neat and organized group of preschoolers venturing on a fun adventure soon diminish.
The "pullers" begin pulling each other back and forth. 
The "independents" refuse to hold hands with anyone. They either run up trying to get in front of the leaders, or mosey along somewhere in the middle of the pack. 
Then there's the 'ground huggers.'  They focus on what is at their feet.  They carefully step, being sure not to step on a crack. They stop to examine every feather, rock or other bit of trash along the path.
We can't forget the "acrobats" who must balance on every curb we approach, leap off every step or tree stump, and jump up to touch the branches of every tree we walk by.
Last but not least we have the ' slow pokes.'    They are right in front of the stroller.  They are not in any hurry.  The stroller wheels often catch their heels, but they still do not speed up.  They complain of being too tired to go any farther, until they are reminded that they will probably be too tired to play at the park then.
All the kids, regardless where they are in line, must drag their hand along the white picket fence on the path.  Finally the park is with in sight. We come to the last intersection.  Look both ways.  Walking....walking...walking across street.  We have reached the grass of the park and away they go---finally able to 'run like the wind Bullseye!"