What’s Helped Returning To The Park With My Son After Frigid Months

How new backpacks have helped Noah and I navigate our morning walks and the playground better

Mar 04, 2025

Noah and I finally returned to the park last week after so many snow day painting projects. As he effortlessly scampered up a ladder, I realized I needed to prepare for a different style of play since my three-year-old is ready to climb, jump and stomp for hours at the playground following frigid winter months. He’s growing up. Fast.

There’s some updated gear we needed that will help us both navigate the park and morning walks better. We haven’t spent the day at the park since early December and a lot has changed in a few months. Noah is suddenly an expert on the swing set and crosses balance beams semi-gracefully. I have to make sure I can keep up with him. Between the park and Noah beginning to recognize letters, I know a lot is progressing. Noah basically needs a new wardrobe since he’s outgrown an entire dresser drawer of clothes overnight. His first pair of jeans are out for delivery.

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Before considering anything else, I knew that we both could use new backpacks. For me, I needed one that was going to securely fit both of my uneven shoulders. I realized this the other week when we were getting out of the car for a trip to play matching games on the computer at our local Tarrytown library. Since I was Noah’s age, I’ve catapulted my school bag behind my back with my left hand, propelling it toward my right side as I can’t use my right hand to grab the strap with cerebral palsy. This time, the long strap on the bag overreached and hit my eye. I couldn’t see for a moment. I’m reaching to grab Noah’s hand and overdue board books.

This backpack was actually a diaper bag that I used for everything and Noah doesn’t even wear diapers during the day anymore. The bag was helpful when I quickly reached for his wipes but it wasn’t made for these new rugged park days. The strap often slipped out of my hand since there was no gripping. Noah is growing and our gear has to grow with us.

Deciding to get new bookbags, I remembered I have a Herschel Supply Co. backpack that’s a perfect size to fit my laptop but it also has supportive straps that never slide off my left or right shoulder when I’m bringing it to the cafe for a writing afternoon. Lisa took another look at Herschel and found that the Herschel Classic backpack goes up to a size XL which would fit Noah’s snacks, potty, first-aid kit, toys, wipes and a half-dozen others things I currently can’t recall. We then got the Herschel Mini for Noah. He delights in carrying his own snack bars and small monster trucks. We both now have backpacks with supportive shoulder straps.

Noah looks like he’s ready for an emo basement show circa 2010 with his green Vans, black hoodie and stylish backpack. He just needs a new Converge t-shirt (he already outgrown his first Jane Doe onesie). We’re traveling soon so this toddler was ready to discard a tiny dinosaur bag that can barely hold an apple and upgraded it to one that he’ll wear to Kindergarten in a couple years.

We’ll be agile en route to the park and can grab our water bottles from side pockets while we take a mid-morning snack break as the temperature continues to rise. Leaving the house, the two of us won’t be forgetting bubbles, chalk and plenty of hand sanitizer which will go inside the Herschel’s large front pockets.

There are also a couple of different stops as we journey to the park. We first visit the cafe so I can order a large black iced coffee no matter the weather and a chocolate croissant for Noah. We then go over to the post office or drop off those board books about sea life at the library.

I’ve figured out the exact steps and paths to get in and out of these places as a disabled person. I know what doors are approachable, opening them with one hand while I push the stroller with my hip. I need the right resources to help with these things so my day with Noah doesn’t come to a halt. A secure bag that fastens properly at my shoulders is crucial.

When we arrive at the park, Noah is confident tackling every slide and play set. Sure, I’m nervous as he climbs with abandon — I’m always ready to catch him — but versatile backpacks help us both be more independent now that we’re outdoors again.

Noah’s favorite song last week: I’m loving the way he says “hey you!”