"Camp Plastico" comes to an end. Sort of.

Last week was our home camp... "Camp Plastico". I'm sure you're wondering where we came up with the name, right? Thought so. Let me tell you... My Baby Boy is very much into plastic army men. And lots of them. So his idea was to make 'homemade' army men. And since they're made out of plastic... yeah, there you go... "CAMP PLASTICO". 

And by the way... I have NO IDEA how to make your own army men. Just sayin'...

Well... Baby Girl wasn't easily convinced. Especially since she is quite the 'princess'. Her idea of camp was a bit different from his... but, since she loves hanging out with her brother, she was finally swayed. "Camp Plastico" it is.

The first day of home camp is always about the t-shirts. We each make our own 'camp' t-shirt that we wear when we do our camp activities at home or if we go out for activities. Keeps them from painting on their good clothes. The kids have fun thinking of a logo and what color paint we should use. Should we all match? Make our own logo with the same colors? Or the same logo with different colors? It usually differs each year, but always fun to do. The kids did a great job this year. It was amazing how much paint was actually on the t-shirts instead of the kitchen table! Yep. They're growing up fast.

So during the week we had many crafts for them. With the army men theme in mind, we went to Michael's and picked up several projects for them to do. My son really wanted to make a diorama. (Is that a word?) Anyway... that's what he wanted to do, so most of the smaller projects were things that would lead up to and tie-in to the diorama. That would be made on the last day of camp so they could use everything else they had made during the week. Well... most of it tied in.

We found some great little kits at Michael's... but after checking out the cost, I decided we could explore and see how we could create the same thing for less. They had a lot of little model kits for $1 each so they picked up 3 each. A jet, a cannon, fire engine, castles.  Out of everything we bought... I was most impressed with these because they were a nice size and they took about 1 1/2 hours to complete. Sand the wood, put together, glue, paint. And the kids could follow the directions themselves. Hey... for a buck... that's a lot of entertainment. AND... I only watched. I let them do them all on their own. If you knew me, you'd know how hard it was for me to sit and not offer my help.

Anyway... we also made posters, painted ceramics and wooden animal figures. We averaged 2 projects a day and still didn't finish them all. That was pretty good. For less than the price of sending just 1 of them to day-camp, we had a week full of fun and quality time spent together. It was relaxing. No set time. Just have fun and be creative. We even had a couple nights of  'camp food'. They like to choose meals that they don't normally have so it feels like 'camp'.  All in all it was a great week.

This summer we will have another camp week.. cooking camp. AKA "Camp Plastico: Part 2". I've found several kid friendly recipes for them to try and they are so excited. I can probably have them cook every day for a week... maybe 2 things a day... for around $20 using what I already have in my pantry. To send them to the 'cooking camp' offered by their school it would cost $99 each for only 6 sessions. Teaching them myself is not only cheaper but it let's me in on the fun too. You know... homemade really is better!

Thanks for reading,

Mary Ann :)

Me. Little Boy. and The Drug.

Once upon a time, I had a Little Boy. And a beautiful Little Boy he was. He had a twinkle in his eye, a bright smile... and just a ton of energy. His hair was curly, he had cute little dimples and he was sort of a chunk... so adorable. I can still see his face and hear his excited little squeal.

When Little Boy was born, he was about 6 weeks premature. We never had the 'bonding' experience that most mothers have with their babies. Due to unexpected medical problems, the doctors took him from me immediately and he had to stay in the Neonatal Unit for a couple of weeks. I can still see the images in my mind of Little Boy when the doctor held up his little arm and it fell lifelessly to the table. I'll never forget.

When Little Boy was young, I had to work long hours. So many long hours that most of my memories of Little Boy are just a blur. You see... I was a single parent. Little Boy's dad was never involved in his life. One day though, Little Boy's dad returned... but that caused more harm than good. The 'dad' he had never known and really didn't know how to miss... suddenly had a face. So when 'dad' disappeared again after a short time... Little Boy was left wondering where he was. And that made Little Boy's mom very angry. She loved her Little Boy... and she would not let this 'dad' hurt him again. It would have to be all or nothing. So Little Boy's dad... chose nothing.

Sadly, Little Boy was not like other little boys. He needed much more attention. More encouragement. More affirmation than the average little boy. Some kids come out of divorce unscathed... but not Little Boy. He felt something missing. He needed a man's approval... he needed a dad. Unfortunately, I was both mother and father, and I worked so much that I was horribly exhausted on the days that I had off. I didn't have the time or energy to give Little Boy what he needed. And what I did have was shared with his siblings, errands and household duties.

So one day, I fell in love and remarried. Little Boy was so excited. I can still see his beaming face when he exclaimed "I can't believe I'm going to have a dad!" But once again... Little Boy's hopes were dashed as he came to realize that New Dad didn't really know how to be the dad he needed either. New Dad had never been a dad before and it didn't come easy to him. So once again... Little Boy felt rejected.

Regretfully, Little Boy didn't have the best mother, either. I wish I had known how to meet the emotional needs of my Little Boy back then. When it really mattered. I wish I could go back and hold him. Comfort him. Let him know everything would be alright. I wish I could just sit and spend time with my Little Boy. Listen to him. Let him know how much he is loved. Tell him that I worked so he could have a great life. Or maybe... just not work so much.

Well, somewhere during that time... The Drug came into Little Boy's life. The Drug came to fill the emptiness and to take away the pain. The Drug was a deceiver. But Little Boy was unaware. And I was naive. My Little Boy would never go along with The Drug. He told me so. And I believed him. It would be painful to Little Boy if I accused him wrongly. I'm going to stand by my Little Boy.

Now... after years of denial on my part... and countless lies from Little Boy... I finally began to realize that Little Boy wasn't Little Boy anymore. He just wasn't there. It was his voice. And I recognize his face. But nothing else was the same. I don't know who this is. I don't see Little Boy when I look into his eyes. Just a cold, dark emptiness. I don't hear Little Boy in the words that he is saying. He's saying what he thinks I want to hear... but it's not him. It's The Drug. My Little Boy's 'home' has been emptied and is now occupied by The Drug. It has kicked him out and taken over.

This unwelcome guest has held my Little Boy captive for years. The Drug has kept him in bondage. It's taken away all that he loves. It has broken him, taken away his pride and self worth. It's taken his self-respect and robbed him of his independence. The Drug has broken his relationships... it's hurt the people he loves... and those who love him.  It has kept him from an education and cost him every job he's ever had. It keeps him from those who would help him escape it's grip... and yet leads him to others who, like Little Boy, find comfort in it... and have fallen for it's deception. The Drug has taken Little Boy's future.

Now Little Boy only calls to ask for help. But... who is needing help? Little Boy? Or The Drug. It doesn't sound like Little Boy on the phone. I recognize the voice. It's The Drug... and it's just using him. It want's to live longer. It needs to live. It tells Little Boy to 'use' and manipulate everyone that loves him to keep it alive. It makes him do things that he never thought he'd do. The Drug wants Little Boy's life. And that's the worst part. Knowing that my Little Boy needs help... and yet, the very help I give will sustain the life of The Drug... or that every effort to kill The Drug, is like killing my Little Boy along with it... it's as if they are intertwined. It hurts when I help... and it hurts when I don't.

I have come to an end. I know that there is not one thing I can do. Not one thing I can say. No encouragement. No advice. Nothing. There is no action I can take. Nothing that hasn't been said or done many times before. I can't fix it. I can't save my Little Boy. I can't rescue him.

I AM POWERLESS!!!

It's like watching my Little Boy 'drowning' in life. He's right before my eyes. He's sinking. He's being swallowed up. He's calling for my help from deep inside. But I can't get to him to save him... he's just beyond my reach. All I can do is stand there and watch... and shout out to him to fight. And for some reason... he's not fighting. He won't save himself. Why? Why won't he fight to live?

I miss him dearly. I miss my Little Boy. I miss his face. I miss his voice... his laugh. The jokes he tells. His personality. I miss the light in his eyes. I miss his life... the place he holds in our family. There's an emptiness where Little Boy used to be. It's been empty so long...

I see my Little Boy... so close, so capable, so deserving of the life he wants... and yet it's out of his grasp. The Drug keeps pulling him farther away. I want to help him take hold of life. But I can't. Only he can do it. Little Boy needs to run from The Drug and never look back. Yet he keeps running back for comfort. A false, deceiving comfort. It is a heart wrenching thing indeed.


Lord, please set my Little Boy free!
Mary Ann

Affordable Fun for the Kids

With the kids home all summer, I try to find affordable activities. This is one you may already know about... but I thought is was worth sharing.

Regal Entertainment Group, offers the Free Family Film Festival. They show free G or PG movies every Tuesday and Wednesday at 10am. No... they aren't new releases. But if your kids are anything like mine... they will watch a movie several times and still enjoy it. Plus, there a few older ones that they never saw on the 'big screen'.

Also, check out AMC Entertainment. They offer movies for $1 every Tuesday morning at the AMC Summer Movie Camp. Check them out to see what's playing in your area.

And there you have my summer fun 'tip of the day'!  :)

Enjoy your summer!
Mary Ann