I have to be honest, I’m spoiled now that Abby has school. I’m getting used to my days spent doing things that I want to  I’m enjoying taking photographs, having lunch dates, working as a writer, even going for walks and doing housework are a bit simpler. Still, I miss those days that Abby and I had where we could just go places, the two of us, and learn a bit about the community we live in and the ones surrounding it.

This morning I got up knowing that I was planning on heading out to a friend’s place in Vancouver in the early afternoon, but I really wanted to hit up a favourite coffee stop of mine before leaving. It seemed like a perfect opportunity to take up an offer from a friend on the Coquitlam RCMP to give Abby a tour of the police station here in Coquitlam, and to let her find out a little bit about what policemen and women do.

Abby was thrilled, though she didn’t talk much… I think that it was a lot for her to take in. She got a chance to peak at the lunch room, she saw where the keys for the cars go, she even got to quietly check out dispatch! Then we got to go downstairs in to the underground where she got to sit on a motorcycle…

Abby even  got to sit in the front seat of the police car! She turned on the lights, and the very loud siren, but I plugged my ears for that part. In the trunk of the police car she saw the first aid equipment, cones, and all of the other cool stuff that the police have for helping people. It was something that she’s likely to remember forever, especially the part when she got stickers and tattoos from some school liaisons. Abby was even given a very special Mountie beaver keychain that she’s going to put on her school bag.

Nearly every police station has tours available, and all you need to do is phone or drop by the front desk to find out more about showing your kids around. The Vancouver Police offer tours of their canine unit, as well as their mounted squad unit which might be particularly fun for animal lovers. It gave me some great ideas for other things that we could check out this summer when time is long and kids are bored. I love the idea of exposing Abby to tonnes of different types of places, things and experiences.