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Wednesday 17 October 2012

Why Malls Were Invented



I never really understood the appeal of malls. Well, except when I was 14 years old, and it was like totally the coolest place ever. But that was before I discovered- well…everywhere else- because almost everywhere else is more exciting than the mall.

Or at least it was. Until now.

I have now reignited my love affair with the mall, and I am a hundred percent in the honeymoon phase.

You see, my one year old daughter recently started walking. At first, all her walking took place at home, as she wasn’t yet steady enough on her feet to take the show on the road. 

Once her walking improved and she was ready to make her debut public performance, we went to the local mall, and I set her loose.  

Suddenly, it was like King Midas had turned the place to gold.

Previously unnoticed signs on the wall became works of art, ugly plants took on a rainforest-like mystique, and benches became percussion instruments.



Now I can add “hanging out at the mall” to the list of activities that I never understood prior to becoming a mom (along with other formerly -deemed “odd” lifestyle choices, such as going to bed early, living in the suburbs, and staying home on Saturday night).

So now I know, malls are for toddlers. And if my daughter loves the mall, I do too. After all, what could be better than watching her take such delight in a place that I previously thought was depressing, at best?

And the cherry on top? All that walking, running, and exploring tired her out so much that she slept for thirteen hours that night. And that, my friends, is why malls were invented.

36 comments:

  1. I am with you on this one!!! We have a mall close by that has quite a few morning mall walkers, and I always found it weird...until now. Now we go any time it's raining so The Kid can walk around. And once the weather turns really cold, I will also be driving to a larger mall a little farther away to change things up a bit.

    Another tip for you: buy some of those electronic kids toys and keep them in your purse. That way, if you see a store you want to go into, you can plop her on a chair in the change room, give her the toys, and quietly try on clothes for a little while.

    Here's to lots of mall walking this winter!

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    1. Great tip! Especially for when she starts refusing the stroller (I'm hoping that doesn't happen too soon. So far, she's pretty content in there).

      I also recently discovered another great activity nearby. There's this gym where they open it up to kids under 6 for a couple hours twice a week. Basically it's just a huge gym with some balls and stuff, and the kids get to run around and go nuts. Best. invention. ever. And so simple.

      The whole walking thing really does open up a world of possibilities.

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  2. I really like malls in the winter - I can walk and not freeze. I just have to try not to open my wallet too much...

    Thank you for finally explaining all the ugly plants!

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    1. Thank my daughter. She's the one who saw their charm.

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  3. It's amazing to get to see such banal things through the eyes of a child! I completely relate. And, oh, the horizontal surfaces that they can cover!

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    1. Seriously. Babies walk fast on those chubby little legs.

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  4. hahaha! i love this! my daughter has some special needs and just started walking with a little granny-walker.. I've been contemplating bringing it to the mall and turning her loose! you may have just convinced me. :)

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  5. oh i remember spending so much time in the mall when my littles were babies. interesting how that works huh?

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    1. I know, right? And then she'll outgrow the mall phase, and then we'll be back there again when she's a teenager (if she lets me go with her!)

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  6. Aww, very sweet. I didn't go to the mall often when my daughter was that age, but now I wish I had! Adorable photo!

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    1. Thanks! And don't worry, the mall isn't going anywhere.

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  7. Hey, you've gotta go where the action is, right? Sounds like the mall is the place to be for 1 yr. olds. Glad you've found such a fun hang-out spot :)

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    1. Yes, exactly. Where the action is. Wow. Who am I?

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  8. My 22m old LOVES it there! But it's not so fun now that she can run and yell, "you're not my mommy"...

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  9. Oh, I'm right with you. I, now, have a special love for the mall. I escape there about once every two weeks (more often when my kids were younger). They have food, a play area, two toy stores, and the train table at Barnes & Noble, not to mention story-time. When my son was two and it was just us every day, I took him to the mall every week to walk him in the stroller for my exercise. Spent the whole morning there. Free entertainment. Loved it!

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    1. Wow, your local mall sounds WAY better than mine. We don't have a play area, or any toy stores, or story time, or a train table...We do have food though!

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  10. Have to agree anyplace where I take me kids and it tires them out letting them sleep for hours on end at night is a place worth re-visiting!! Very much can relate and enjoyed too!!

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    1. Yes, now that my daughter is walking, I will have to find more places I can take her to let her run around to her heart's content.

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  11. Haha- I go to the mall all the time with both of them! Keeps me and them occupied!

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    1. Exactly! We went back to the mall today. Many toys were taken off shelves.

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  12. Here's why my husband thinks the jumpy house is a better option than the mall. Even though the jumpy house has an admission price, there is nothing there I can buy except a bag of chips. The mall? Yeah. Credit card smokin' when I leave.

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    1. But your husband is wrong. Just tell him that your credit card needs at least 60 minutes of exercise per day.

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  13. I have to admit, I never went to the mall with my first (she's 4 now) but now that I have a second I may have to start going. DS has way more energy and I need to find ways to tire him out before nap time. Didn't realize the fake plants would be so interesting to toddlers :)

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    1. EVERYTHING is interesting to toddlers, right?

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  14. Malls are awesome when you have little ones. When we take our two year old for supper we often take her to one that is attached to a mall. When we are waiting for the meal to arrive she always gets impatient so I can just take her for a stroll around the mall and hubby texts me when the food has arrived :)

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    1. That's a great idea. We have not yet mastered the art of dining out with a baby, so we avoid it at all costs!

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  15. The mall is our favorite destination. My 5 year old son asks to go all the time! Between the play zone, stores, and food court we can make an entire day out of it! The kids always take fantastic naps when we get home too!

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    1. There is nothing more fantastic than a fantastic nap.

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  16. It is the circle of life....
    We run around the mall as kids
    We "hang around" the mall as teenagers
    We chase our kids around the mall as adults.
    Then we move to Florida, hike our pants up to our nipples, power walk around the mall at 5Am, eat dinner at 1PM and wonder why the kids don't call....when deep down we know, its because they are chasing our grandkids around the mall....*spooky

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