I didn’t grow up going to the zoo. As a matter of fact, I think the one and only time that I went was on a school field trip. I only have very vague memories of the trip. Unless the trip was actually a dream. I can’t be sure. I was a kid.

I thought about asking my mother if I actually went to the zoo but you know as well as I do, back then our parents had no clue what we did every day. Especially at school.

Yesterday we decided to take our kids to the zoo. A chance to be one with nature. To see the animals in their natural environment. Or rather the environment man built for them before they hauled them here from Africa.

I don’t know exactly how the animals feel about living there. At least no other animals are chasing them trying to eat them while they are safely behind their fences and retaining walls. Well, except for that frog that was in the snake’s tank. He was screwed.

I wanted my kids to enjoy a zoo experience. Or maybe I just wanted to ruin their Labor Day weekend. Either way off we went.

Luckily, we live close to the Nashville zoo. Not too long of a drive. The thing about car rides with my children though is they are very spirited and loud. Yes, I will accept responsibility for that fact, as I am often spirited and loud myself.

But also there are four of them. I try to turn the music up loudly but they just talk over it, like it’s their job. Glad my husband was driving yesterday because I was the chaos coordinator. Because my kids don’t just chit-chat. They also bicker, call one another names and occasionally engage in physical altercations, with each other.

We pulled up to the zoo and parked, then began the trek to the ticket office. Naturally there was a line. And naturally it was 88 degrees. Because I KNOW how to pick zoo days. The line actually moved fairly quickly. Taking four kids to do anything isn’t cheap. I forked over my credit card because, well, zoo.

Before we even got in the gates good, my kids were begging for water and souvenirs. I admit as a mom, I come from a place of NO. My initial answer is usually no. But honestly NO just gives me time to make up my mind. I can always change my reply to yes later.

We started on the side of the zoo that gets the full sun. You know, where the rhinos and giraffes recreate living in an African savanna. I thought this was a good idea. Get the hottest part over with while we were still feeling unworn.

After a few exhibits, we came to a gigantic kid’s play area. Plenty of things to climb and play on, all while getting super hot and extra tired. Dad and I took a seat on a bench in the shade and let them run wild, in the zero entry play place.

In thirty minute or so they all returned to let us know they were exhausted and parched. Now, we aren’t your professional zoo types. We saw people with wagons, lunches and water jugs. But not us. I just had my trusty credit card.

Again we had to stand in line. My children needed water. Looking at the price list, we saw that a bottle of water was three dollars. Which is a ridiculous price and you would think that we would learn to pack water. Upon closer observation I noticed that they had a refillable souvenir cup for only seven dollars. Free refills all day. They even came with bendy straws and carrying handles. They seemed like the better value since we could fill it, again and again, for one outrageous price.

I ordered six. My husband stood and glared at me like this.