How is it only Wednesday, July 3rd? Seriously.
I mean, already! Already Wednesday, July 3rd. Thinking positively!
We spent almost four hours at the park with the wading pool today. The wading pool gets filled at noon and drained at 3. It takes 45 minutes to fill and test for poisonous bum germs, and another 30 for the park attendant to throw all the toys in. Among the usual water toys (buckets, boats) were three inflatable hammers. At first the shock of the freezing cold water rendered my shouty children speechless (well worth the price of admission.) Then they proceeded to fight over the inflatable hammers because wouldn’t you? Yes, there were three hammers and three boys who were playing together (my two and their friend), but there were also two older boys who took one of the hammers and oh! there was much hammer negotiating and hammer smashing and “don’t smash me with that hammer!”ing.
Bless the park attendant, who engaged everyone in some ball-tossing and What Time is It Mr. Shark-ing, but before long, one boy had turned his head, looking for the hammer, and shortly thereafter the hammer wars started up again.
Next time I go to the park with the wading pool, I will slip a safety pin in my pocket. Hammer problem: solved.
This sounds like a wonderful beginning to a scrapbook series. You know you look at some people’s scrapbooks and they’re all these happy, cheerful moments decked out with well-placed buttons and scraps of paper and whatnot – you could have that, but instead of titles like “a walk in the park” it could read “The Hammer Wars” or, in my case, the “I Wanted My Ice Cream On A Stick Rebellion.”
That is a great idea that you may see featured on this very blog because the summer is just getting started.
When I am the President of Park Pools, I will enact the following changes: 1) Grimston will be filled by 9am. Who cares if it is cold? It will be emptied at 8 pm. Also: less freaking toys. 2) Hume Park will be open at 9am. It will be free on the weekdays, and cost money on the weekends, not the other way around like it is now. No one will take lessons there. 3) Moody Park Pool will be enclosed with a cool bio dome bubble thing with windows that can open. And be open year round.
1. Yes! 2. Yes! Except for the lessons because we are taking lessons there because the thought of going into the cavernous, mouldy Canada Games for lessons made me break out in the bad kind of sweats. But I could see how it would be annoying if I lived across the street. 3. yes! I saw seven ducks floating in Moody Park pool this morning. Happy ducks.
Clara, Val has been bugging me for a couple of days to catch up on your blog so I just did. I started with today and read back until I started recognizing the stories. You are a talented observer of life, the life of your family who you obviously love. Even though a couple of them may attempt to drive you crazy from time to time. And also as you have noted can melt your heart with those unexpected flashes of maturity like they really have been listening to the lessons (which they have). Neither one of us comments too often but we do read your work and it is one of the ways we can stay in touch.
Pat
ps you melt our hearts.
Ladies and gentlemen, the best in-laws in the world ^ Thank you Pat and Val.
But not with 5 exclamation points. Admirable self control.
Our local wading pool is a lawless place where older kids throw things over the pool while little kids barely escape with their lives.
The highlight is the moment when the pool is being filled and the “Lifeguard” walks around in his heavy plastic gear and boots to does it with chlorine!