As Mr. Big Eyes becomes more active and interactive, I feel I need to entertain him more than ever. But sometimes too much stimulation — a ride on a play car or a puppet show — is more than his energy level (and, consequently, mine) can handle. Yesterday, I played it simple. It was a beautiful day outside, and I took Mr. Big Eyes and our dog to the park. All three of us sat on a picnic blanket and watched similar scenes surrounding us. We nibbled on raspberries and crackers. Brie, our 3-year-old Labrador, sat by my side, determined not to miss out on a crumb. Mr. Big Eyes munched on some Tucs, and his “I Love NY” t-shirt quickly became stained with ruby-red fingerprints. The shaded tree protected us from the late afternoon rays, and a light breeze blew Luca’s wisps of hair off his forehead. I had forgotten toys, and had nothing to entertain Luca with except my wits. He busied himself by picking dandelions, hugging trees, and gathering twigs the length of straws that he thought Brie might like. I loved every minute of it. It was the perfect reminder that a toddler doesn’t need a whole lot to be entertained. No need to send in the clowns. He just wants to hang out with his parents.