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Thursdays at Three
elementary school at 2:30 p.m. If we drove straight home, we could have two uninterrupted hours of playtime before I needed to start dinner and the evening activities. That was precisely the pocket of time I needed to turn all those “somedaysâ€? into “todays.â€? When I proposed the idea to my girls, they nodded in agreement with a mumbled “sounds fun.â€? But, if I was BY AMANDA MCDANEL going to commit, I was going to go BIG. Probably the largest and more resounding step I made was putting away my phone for two entire interrupted hours (except to take pictures), and I saw their eyes suddenly widen in surprise at my dedicated attention. While Pinterest is a brilliant tool to archive all of your For our first adventure, I picked up a new board game ideas, visions and “somedays,â€? I find that it often fuels that we sat and played together on the floor for an entire more guilt than inspiration. Though I absolutely believe hour. Eye contact. Belly Laughs. Tickles. Next came the in dreaming, and even the concept of visions boards to snack portion, where I whipped out some artificially inspire action to pursue those dreams, the wealth of dyed high-fructose-filled ice cream treats that were met information available on the site can easily turn it into a with linebacker hugs of appreciation. Beat that, Fun Dad! virtual dumping ground of “should havesâ€? – especially if We returned to battle it out with another board game you’re a parent. round until Johnny arrived home to That pin you saved for a happy, joy-filled household rolling dressing your toddler like an If we drove straight home, we around on the floor, tangled in each Oompa Loompa, the crazy hair other’s limbs and laughter. could have two uninterrupted day inspirations for crafting baby After that first experience of spaghetti spirals, the special hours of playtime before I Thursdays at Three, my heart was storybook where you were going needed to start dinner and so full that I committed to revisiting to have every single teacher your those Pinterest boards – but from the evening activities. That kids ever had write a memorable the perspective that I would wholly message – all untouched and only was precisely the pocket of celebrate each and every activity we resurfacing again after they’ve hit time I needed to turn all those accomplished instead of dwelling their teenage years, permanently on the vast sea of those we did not. “somedaysâ€? into “todays.â€? anchoring you with a heavy sense And I’m happy to report that of parental guilt over what “a good Thursdays at Three is still alive and parent would have done.â€? well. It’s dedicated to doing the These kinds of missed opportunities are enough to crazy, outlandish and completely messy activities that weigh on a parent during the most normal of times‌ fill my daughters’ eyes with wonder and my heart with without the compounding effects of a national pandemic memories – even when I’m plucking 450 oversized waterwhen most of us are now expected to perform the roles filled beads out of the bathtub or scraping edible slime of parent, homeschool teacher, cafeteria staff, principal off the underside of the dining room table. Because if and school nurse. we’re all going to crack open Pandora’s Box, there’s no Sitting with these thoughts day after day, I finally better time than 2020‌and I personally plan to slip slide woke in the middle of the night with a brilliant idea (nod into 2021 in my underwear on a giant water blob of fun – in agreement here since I know you understand the with both my girls’ hands clasped tightly in mine. feeling): Thursdays at Three. Pre-pandemic Thursdays were the days that my preschooler was home all day and we traveled together to pick up her big sister from
The Death of Mommy Guilt THERE’S A SEEMINGLY INNOCUOUS CONTAINER
that’s been sitting in my pantry and calling to me like a siren whenever I open the doors. The imprint of a unicorn frolicking among rainbows simply implores me to pull it out and play, much like a forgotten favorite childhood toy. Also like said favorite toy, it was initially purchased during a weak moment, so the unicorn itself and its contents are not at fault – but for the longest time I just couldn’t bear to crack the lid, knowing that to do so would be like unlocking Pandora’s box. “Fly high on a unicorn! Climb aboard and get ready to soar, we’re going to see a unicorn’s power come to life! Want to search for rainbows and other magical creatures? Maybe we’ll meet a fairy! Only our imaginations can slow us down when we use Slime to Play!â€? Clearly, whoever is doing Jell-O’s marketing campaign for the containers of Jell-O Play 100% Edible Strawberry Unicorn Slime deserves a raise – it’s simultaneously every kid’s dream come true and every parent’s nightmare. So why on earth would it be sitting in my pantry just begging for its unicorn power to be unleashed? Let’s rewind a few years‌ I’m sure all brides-to-be, new moms, crafters, teachers, post-college decorators on a budget and et cetera are familiar with the website Pinterest. It’s the shiny perfect orb of social media that allows you to search everything from Instagrammable brunch recipes to sensory activities for three-week-old left-handed babies, and “pinâ€? them onto boards that you can refer back to‌ never. Unless, of course, you’re planning a wedding and you have 27 boards to review with your florist, cake artist, bridal party, caterer and pet attendant in order to plan the picture-perfect wedding while swearing you are definitely not a high-maintenance “bridezilla.â€? (Side note: My husband, Johnny, would like to personally thank the programmer who did not develop Pinterest until AFTER our wedding in 2006.)
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18 | FA L L/H O L I DAY 2020
