How I almost had an anxiety attack during my first time attempting family fun.

I've written about how daunting the first solo outings--and simple tasks in general--with the first kid can be. Solo outings with the second kid have been nothing. Yesterday I took James to the day spa with me and he fussed a bit in his carseat and I fed him a bottle in the pedicure chair like I've been doing it my whole life. But then came the bigger challenge that same day: taking both him and Paul downtown. This summer I've wanted to do more fun stuff with Paul and take advantage of not commuting to work, and ideally use my Shedd Aquarium gift membership a few times before it expires. I got an email about an event called "Jazzin' at the Shedd" that started at 5 PM and was members-only and figured this would be a good excursion. Even better,Â the Mumford & Sons concert that was due to take place on Montrose Beach was canceled, freeing up what would be a Lake Shore Drive traffic nightmare, so it was worth a shot. However, Steve decided to go to his office and so it would be just me taking both boys down there.

As the time came to get going (I wanted to leave by 4 in order to get to the Shedd before 5), I felt take-deep-breaths stressed, like I was going to the airport with not a lot of time to make the flight, or was about to have an upleasant medical procedure. Here were all the things that stood between us and FAMILY FUN:

Get myself dressed/put on my makeup.

Let the dog out and feed him. Bring in the mail.

Make and pack Paul's dinner to eat at the aquarium.

Wake up and feed James. Listen to him make a noisy crap.

Clean up noisy crap.

Feed James some more. Have him spit up on my pants and on the rug. Text Steve a reminder that we'll need to clean the rug later. Change pants. Put James in adorable whale-themed pajamas that nobody will see. (Paul has already been put in adorable fish tee-shirt that nobody saw because it was covered up by a sweatshirt.)

Walk and feed Jamee while carrying a baby blanket and simultaneously kicking a spare pair of Paul's shorts down the stairs to pack up in the diaper bag.

Get James, food, diaper bag in the car (now 4:30 PM)

Drive to daycare.

Totally flop at parallel parking in a hurry on busy Clark St. Wait for other car to leave so I can just pull in.

Get to daycare with James, learn that, happily, Paul has already used the bathroom before we have to leave, but waste the time that was saved waiting for him to put on his damn shoes.

Get Paul and James in the car. Give Paul an M&M because I promised him one for putting on his shoes. Feel no shame.

Drive from Edgewater to Museum Campus. Somehow find Steve and a parking spot (at about 5:30).

Ignore man who pleaded with me to move my car up the three inches I had between my car and the one in front of me so he could fit his SUV into the huge spot behind me.

Walk to Aquarium. ENJOY FAMILY FUN.

Paul and Steve head off to investigate some Dolphins while James and I hold down the fort. Not pictured: the #shandy in the stroller cup holder or Paul and James carefully-selected aquatic-themed outfits. #jazzin at the #shedd

I honestly didn't care what happened next--I had actually pulled it all off. It was just the cherry on top of the sundae that Steve and the guys and I actually had a few drinks, listened to some jazz, ate the PBJ I had packed and saw a few animals, and got Paul home only about a half hour past our ideal bedtime. FAMILY FUN COMPLETED. I am totally sure our next outing will be a breeze.