Mommy & Me

WHAT STARTED AS AN IDEA TO BE SURE THAT I WAS MAKING time to hang out with my kids quickly became their weekly chance to go out to eat and spend their allowance. If Kal had to be in class four days a week, I didn’t think that meant Betty should never go to the beach. Mom Day could be my chance to help them with their coding and video production goals.

For the fi rst Mom Day, I took Boom to the Flat Iron Lego store to look for special parts and Container Store for better ways to organize toys. The next day was Kal’s Mom Day. We went to look for embroidery thread and other crafty things. Then the days quickly became about asking to go to a Lego Store or Dollar Tree. To be sure I didn’t have to do that three times a week, Kal was directed to go hunting for new foods at places like Trader Joe’s. Sitting in beach traffi c without actually going to the beach was slightly ridiculous, so I tried to avoid the malls as much as I could. But the whole atmosphere of walking from store to store in person to touch things and eat in a food court seemed to be the re-opening experience they needed. —MV

REVERSE ORDER Betty wanted IHOP after playing on the beach, so we learned the Yelp waitlist.

We came out of hibernation to go shop

DINE IN Taco Bell was the fi rst place we sat indoors to eat. They had the naked chicken chalupa on Kal’s fi rst Mom Day. Boom asked for McDonald’s on his next Mom Day. Then Betty wanted IHOP. Each restaurant seemed to handle the re-opening differently. Mom Days were pretty much the only time we dined out.

Boom visits the Flat Iron Lego store

Betty visits the Flat Iron Lego store

Boom shops at Rockefeller Center

Maybe one day we’ll edit all these videos down to be the YouTube channel of Boom’s dreams. PUBLIC ART At Rockefeller Center, Oracle is part of Sanford Biggers’ Chimera series, exploring historical depictions of the body and their subsequent myths, narratives, perceptions, and power. In Fort Green, Kal and I saw a dog that looked like a fancy version of Judge, but the picture ended up as only that guy’s thigh.

Trying new things

Going to stores to look at toys was basically going back to pre-pandemic life for these kids, but having your mom suggest you ask the employees about the pieces you’re looking for was new. I also talked two of them into going on the Wonder Wheel. Probably the most extraordinary thing was throwing out their bedtime to stay up late toasting marshmallows.

Planning a parade sounded like planning a super spreader event

NOT A FAN In mid

June, Boom played with water guns, but mostly he just wanted to sit and watch his siblings play. In July, he wrapped himself up extra to get out of the sun. Meanwhile, Kal buried himself to get out of the sun.

Cover Girl

Betty modeled a sweater I bought in maybe 2013 but everyone refused to wear until that day

ALWAYS SCHOOL Kal spent

most of his summer in test prep. They sent a care package that included Kleenex and ear plugs, which seemed like a great idea to Madeline who hated standardized tests. She gave Kal Eats, Shoots & Leaves in case it would help him, too, but it only encourage him laugh at grammatical errors. Not enough to get into her hate of the name 80’s TEA, though. WHAT’S 6 X 3? Betty and Boom found a series of videos animating a comedy sketch about a kid who can’t multiply 6 x 3. Seeing the back of this multiplication deck made Madeline laugh, hearing, “What’s 6 + 6? Now add six more!”