Ed’s been working extra a lot these past few, er, years really. But the past few weeks have been especially intense. That means it’s just me and the kids for the vast majority of the time which is absolutely fine and wonderful. Except when it’s not.
Cue me losing it out of the blue when I discover them all (Ed and Colum and Irene) gathered around his computer playing some sort of Lego™ game. I started stomping around half muttering, half calling out complaints like, “I can’t even take them swimming because you’re too busy working and now you’re playing computer games?!” Or, “We’ve done nothing all weekend because you’re supposedly working and now this.” Or, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, but it’s just me and them all day, every day and I’m going CRAZY.”
Which, ’nuff said, basically. The truth is that dude really is up against some serious deadline pressure. I know that and I know what I signed up for when I got myself into this whole marriage/family situation. But also, I am taking off to New York city all by myself in a week and a bit for the Blogher conference, so revenge reprieve will be mine. The truth is also that I live in a neighbourhood with awesome women like Laura and Genevieve of the Junk Mamas.
Women like these, who continuously do amazing and cool things for their community out of the goodness of their hearts, make the 24/7 child wrangling gig bearable. Hell, they make it fun.
So yesterday, instead of pulling my hair out in a futile attempt to “get something done,” we headed over to our local park for FREE camp-style arts and crafts. Qualified art instructors courtesy of the local art supply store Articulations? Check. Lifeguard-manned wading pool? Check. Two different play structures? Check. Picnic tables, grassy expanses, sandboxes and swings? Checkorama. Who needs to shell out for day camp anyway?
Thanks you, Junk Mamas! There’s a new craft every day all week from 1 – 3pm. (Not all of them will be run by Articulations.) Then on Friday evening there’ll be a community BBQ, the proceeds of which will be put back into the park. If you’re in the west end of Toronto, check out the Vine Park Pop-Up Camp Facebook page, or just show up! If you’re NOT in the T Dot and want to do something like this in your own neighbourhood, go for it. I know the Junk Mamas would approve.
Making clay molds with sticks and stones and assorted other nature stuffs.
Pouring porcelain into the molds.
Close up of Colum’s. Ready to dry.
The most beautiful brown, tree-like molded porcelain art thingy EVER.
And scene.