*Facebook 4/8/11 - Sometimes I feel a little overwhelmed….and sometimes I decide to go to the circus with seven children, aged three to twelve. Is there a word for over-overwhelmed? Someone should invent it. I’d do it myself if I had any free time.
When I moved away from Boston, I worried about missing out on all of the culture of the city. Interesting things were happening every night! Of course, the fact that I would have to drive in, sit in traffic, pay $100 to park my car, pay $100,000 for tickets to the event, wait an hour to retrieve my car from parking, sit in traffic and drive home prevented me from EVER attending any of these events. Still, it was comforting to know they were there, like broccoli. I know it’s good for me and I feel healthier just knowing it is in my veggie crisper. But I’m not gonna eat it.
I was worried that there would not be the same opportunities in my new South Dakota town. Wrong. This town is completely family-centered. There are indoor and outdoor play spaces, water attractions, classes, clubs and after school centers. At one point this year, my children were enrolled in 6 different activities at once!
*Facebook 1/13/11 Okay. Could someone please volunteer to be in charge of stopping me before I ever again sign the kids up for volleyball, basketball, two nights of ice skating, Brownie Girl Scouts and Archery in the same month? We have something EVERY SINGLE NIGHT! Every time I open my trunk ice skates, basketballs, Girl Scout cookies and snowpants fall out. This is ridiculous.
In addition to the activity choices, the town brings in outside entertainment several times a month. A play, a concert, some kind of performance. This month: the circus. The whole school (and our house) was abuzz with talk of elephants, jugglers and cotton candy. Souvenirs were appearing in my English classes and free tickets were handed out to every single child in the whole town. None of my children asked if we were going to the circus. They asked when. And how many times.
Preparing to take 7 children to the circus (the big girls had invited a friend to come along) is sort of like planning a military attack. Without laying the proper groundwork, we would end up spending a million dollars, and we’d probably end up with casualties. First we strategized: Thankfully, we had 4 extra adults. Bill’s parents had surprised us for the weekend and a couple we're friends with (pregnant and calling hanging out with my family “Boot Camp”) were coming with us. Each adult would be responsible for one child, with Sam off on his own, leaving one person “on leave” at all times. Three vehicles would be needed for the caravan, carseats installed in two of them. Each child would receive two “tickets,” one good for a treat, one good for a ride or a toy. Money: check! Wipes: check! Camera: check! Synchronize your watches, everyone to your battle stations, move on my go!
My first clue that my battle plan might not work was before we even arrived. Traffic? Here? Never before…but now it seemed that every single car in our town was lined up outside the auditorium, battling for a spot. Then we entered the arena. 40,000 children had gone AWOL: screaming, climbing on elephants and clambering for expensive toys. Light up swords? Pony Ride? $50 stuffed elephant? Face Paint? Souvenir glass? Picture with a snake? Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, and Yes. I wasn’t sure my ride and treat tickets would hold up against this bombardment.
We survived. We even had fun. And we didn’t lose anyone. It was totally worth it.
Highlights:
1. Gabby in line for the elephant ride, so excited that she can’t stand still.
2. Levi collecting souvenirs.
3. All 7 children, sitting still for extended periods of time, mesmerized.
Back at home, surrounded by flashing souvenir tumblers (4 that don’t work and one that refuses to turn off), light-up swords and cotton-candy-covered kids, we surveyed the damage. Our checkbook took a big hit and we were going to have to set up some sort of triage for the laundry room, but all in all, our mission was a success. Our kids were safe, happy…and tired.
© Jody Hoffman 2011
Experience is not interesting till it begins to repeat itself, in fact, till it does that, it hardly is experience.
Posted by: nike free run | 07/18/2011 at 01:51 AM
Oh my Goodness! That pict of Levi is about the cutest darn thing--EVER!
Posted by: Marthamormon | 05/23/2011 at 11:17 AM
I like to forward these to my darling friends and previous owners!! Of course they love reading these and especially when you talk about the children and the adventures at the house. Thanks.. always enjoy..dar
Posted by: dar burgard | 05/14/2011 at 11:50 AM
Wondering if the glasses on little Levi were to protect him from flying sugar!
Posted by: Pat | 05/14/2011 at 08:03 AM