Long ago, I told you guys about one of Palm Beach County's best places to go for entertaining little ones, the Playmobil Fun Park. Located near Palm Beach Gardens, it costs just a buck to get in, and it provides an afternoon or morning of relaxation for moms or dads, who can just kick back on a bench while the kiddies go to town on the hundreds of Playmobil figures, vehicles and play sets.

We were there yesterday, in fact, when something rather disgusting happened.

Elias was sitting on the play mats, happily assembling train tracks, playing with trains and putting the "choo-choo guy" on the trains when another little boy made his way into Eli's space. The boy looked barely a year, as his steps were tentative. He picked up one the play figures from the train, and promptly put it in his mouth.

Sure, I know babies put stuff in their mouth ... duh! But this little guys just mawed on it, just moving it all along the inside of his mouth while his mom stood by. I looked at her, looked at him, and she casually told him not to put it in his mouth. Of course, the kid ignored her. Then he walked DIRECTLY UP TO MY SON, and tried to put the offending, spit-covered conductor person into Elias's hand. I quickly tried to intervene, wondering when this mother was going to step in so that I didn't have to put my hands on the disgusting conductor.

She didn't. I gingerly grabbed it, resisting the temptation to actually kick it away on the floor rather than touch it. Again, nothing from the mom.

Now, I harbor no illusions that the toys at a place like this would be germ-free. Of course not. But jeez, at least TRY to stop your kids from sucking on the toys and then handing them off to someone else.

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