It's Tuesday. August is barely a week old. The kids
and I are swimming at the dock. Though we have done this quite a bit
this summer, today we do it with an edge of urgency. Like thirsty
towels, we are soaking up as much summer as we can hold. Next week
school starts.
Of course, we realize that summer isn't over just because
the old regimentation has begun. There are still opportunities for
swimming and other hot weather activities. After all, it doesn't really
get cold until late in the fall, at least not here in the deep south,
anyway. But without speaking of it, we know in our hearts, this is
really the end of "our" summer. Our summer here at Camp Meema, that
is. To console ourselves, we have discussed how much there will be
to write about when the teacher assigns the dreaded "What I Did On
My Summer Vacation" essay. A couple of beach trips, numerous movies,
Six Flags, several museums, sleeping late, and slurping our weight
in ice cream and watermelon. Hours spent playing Lake Monster and
the Island of Doom ranks high, as well (they always believe they can
out swim me, little fools!).
And then there was THE PROJECT.
We always do a summer project. This year it was pretty
ambitious, even for us experienced summer project engineers. We built
the By-The-Sea Beanie Bed & Breakfast. I'm not sure where the initial
idea emerged from, but it blossomed quickly into a major undertaking
that took us from the end of June and through all of July and into
August. I built the main structure, of course, but the kids painted
the rooms and all the furniture. They also made the hot dogs and the
bags of peanuts, pretzels and tubes of suntan lotion out of Sculpey,
for the Beach Bum Snack Hut. Hayes is quite proud to take credit for
the terrific hot dog painted on the sign. Olivia learned some very
nice scissortechniques while cutting out the beach towels. Dylan did
a slam bang job both on room 401 and the chair and bunk bed. Even
Meagan, though only five, proved she could paint with the best, with
only the tiniest smudge of pink regrettably transferred to her shirt
and just a tad in her hair.
Then one thing led to another.
Just when we thought we were done, we decided we needed
a beach, after all, it is a By-The-Sea resort. We painted an ocean
and sand on a large canvas. Hayes added an ominous gray fin in the
farthest corner and then, as a precautionary after thought, decided
to paint in a shark fence. Olivia painted the lifeguard seat and the
stools for the Snack Hut. One day Carly was here by herself and she
and I did a head count and decided we needed a couple more Beanies.
We went gleefully on a Beanie hunt until we found just the right ones.
Then we played.
I know what you are thinking, especially if you are
of the masculine persuasion. Good grief, the woman's got the boys
playing with a dollhouse! But wait. Besides the fact that it isn't
a dollhouse as much as it is a business replica, this project had
some amazing benefits, both obvious and not so obvious. Some interesting
lessons were learned along the way. Both for the kids and for me.
First and foremost, we learned about setting a goal
and working toward the conclusion a little at a time. We never said
we couldn't do it, so we always believed we would. Hayes discovered
the process of failing and then starting over when he painted the
hot dog sign. He could see it in his head, but it wasn't turning out
like he wanted it in the first try, so he crumpled in a heap of frustration
until I reminded him that all artists work from sketches and trial
and error until they get the results they want. It took a few tries,
but in the end, he was amazed at himself and his final artwork. It
looked exactly as he had visualized it. Olivia learned that sanding
the cut ends of the wood is an art form in itself. Plus it is tedious
but you do it to make the finished project equal to your effort. A
job well done is a job well earned. Or something like that.
And there were other more subtle lessons. One day, after
the kids left, I did a quick inventory of the B&B. I then went to
the computer and typed up the following message:
Housekeeping has notified
the front desk that there is a blanket missing in this guestroom.
Please return the item to its proper place. Beach towels are available
at the Beach Bum Snack Hut. Thank you, Specs, Manager.
The next day, Hayes found the note on the bunk in room
402. I was lurking to see what his reaction would be. His eyes widened,
he started laughing and then he quickly went and found the blanket.
Nothing has turned up missing since. I'm accepting this to mean a
heightened sense of responsibility has now sneaked in the back door.
Friday, on our really final last day of Camp Meema,
we are having a Concert On The Beach. We picked out some music and
made a tape. With apologies to Jackson Browne, Celine Dion, Mary Chapin
Carpenter and Chris Rice, we will be performing to the rest of the
Beanies as they lounge on the Beach. A special stage was erected for
the occasion. It sort of floats on the "water".
While we were brainstorming about this, it occurred
to me that kids have unlimited potential while practicing life. It
is this kind of open-ended pretending that teaches the problem solving
skills humans need before stepping out into real life situations.
And more than that it is the confidence that anything is possible
that supports it all underneath, like a hidden raft. These are the
real lessons here. If our children never have the time to pretend
and to invent and create what was not, then what will become of us
down the road? Toys that do all the thinking and leave nothing to
the imagination are worse than sugar water. They have no benefits
beyond the moment of consumption. This is a sobering thought because
so many of the electronic games and the plethora of battery operated
gadgets that line the shelves of toy departments, give nothing of
real value back for the effort. Thumb exercising, is about all. Practicing
life takes fertile imaginations but fertile imaginations come only
from practice.
Next year, the kids have already decided we need a Beanie
Restaurant and some cars. We'll do some sketches first. I have no
doubt we will accomplish these things. How hard can it be?
And you know, we thought we were just having fun. Imagine
that.
If you are curious to view our B&B project click
here
