PlayIsTheWork.com

When I was growing up I definitely had the Kool-Aid house and definitely had the Kool-Aid mom. We always had kids from the neighborhood in and out of our house–most of the time they felt as home there as I did. My mom was always the “room mother” for our class organizing various activities and participating in the PTA. We always had tons of sleepovers and popcorn/pizza nights and she always made it incredibly fun.

I have such incredibly fond memories of that aspect of my childhood. The fact that my mom knew all my friends by name and they knew her. It felt at times like my mom was the glue that held all the neighborhood kids together. Of course, that was a different time and place but the nostalgia of it still puts a smile on my face.

We have a party every year around the holidays to celebrate a Seattle tradition–the Christmas Ships (yes, dare I say the word, Christmas.) It’s a wonderful event that no matter where you’re from, what your religious affiliation is, everyone enjoys it. Our kids had started planning the party a couple of weeks ago and were pretty determined about the fun activities that would be available for the kids like carpet bowling and pin the tail. They even helped my husband put up colored lights and tinsel everywhere to make the play room look festive! Every year we’ve invited our friends from the neighborhood and the kid’s classmates. And every year it’s been fairly small and intimate–for one reason or another people drop out at the last minute, we all get sick kids etc. so even when we plan for a big group, it ends up pretty reasonable. We all huddle together on the deck together and keep each other warm.

Last night was the closest I’ve ever been (and may ever be) to being the Kool-Aid mom. Just about everyone who rsvp’d to our Evite showed up. At one point our play room (which is about the size of one big bedroom) was stacked so high with small child bodies it was all I could do to keep from busting a gut laughing. Thank goodness for our babysitter Christina who I believe got way more than she bargained for but generally was there to make sure there was no blood or choking. The incredible thing about it was that everyone was having a great time. They were all different ages, boys and girls and I don’t think I heard one fight over a toy. And the grown ups had a great time being able to get to know each other and share a nice glass of wine or a cup of Johnny’s famous “Glog” (what’s in that anyway?) We all really had a wonderful time and it dawned on me as I was putting my exhausted body to bed that it is an amazing thing that our children can really bring us together.

Now I know why being the Kool-Aid mom brought my mom so much joy. It was the feeling of being a part of a community and for that brief moment you are at the heart of it. It filled up my heart until it was bursting being around friends and seeing our children forming their own community.

Posted on December 16th, 2005 by Sam
Filed under: Uncategorized