On the Outside Looking In
Have you ever been to a place called Monkey Joe’s? It is an indoor playground for children with giant blow up playthings for kids to jump on, climb over, slide down, and run through. It is a haven for children and parents alike. The boys and girls can play on the inflatable toys without getting hurt while the parents can sit back, relax, and even have adult conversations since the kids are being monitored by referees who make sure the kids are following the rules. This is where we recently celebrated my 3 year old granddaughter Molly’s birthday along with 35 of her closest friends and their parents. Monkey Joe’s has party rooms where the children for each group can go to have the refreshments—pizza, cake and juice. After the singing and distribution of the cake, I was visiting with my friend when out of the corner of my eye, I saw a young boy on the outside peering through the glass at the party. He was on the outside looking in, wanting to be a part of the fun and excitement ...