Family Fun?

Two posts in one day... Holy S**T!

For some reason the following popped into my brain today and I had to share. Because not only is it one small moment of realizing I am far from being a perfect mom, I get another reminder... every...single...month.

I'm talking about FamilyFun magazine. Why do I torture myself?

A little back story... Back when my daughter was in kindergarten, the parents used to have to wait for their kids on the sidewalk for when class let out. Most moms (like me) would rush to get there super early, not because we were anxious to reunite with our darling children, but to get the best parking spot. You know, the spot that you can just drive right out of without having to back up and risk hitting one of the little tots because you can't see over the back of your SUV. The spot that runs no risk of someone blocking you in. The. Perfect. Parking. Spot.

Anyway, so a couple weeks before Halloween I'm standing on the sidewalk waiting with the other moms who are all talking about what their little angels are going to be for Halloween-and simultaneously making me feel like crap because I don't have the creativity to come up with half the shit their spouting off. One mother mentions how this entire family she knows all dressed up like wrapped Christmas presents and submitted the pic to FamilyFun. Stupid me, I have to ask, "What's FamilyFun?"

Cue the collective gasp.

"You don't know what FamilyFun is?"

They proceeded to tell me and after my daughter was safely home with Dad, I ran back out to the drugstore to pick up a copy of this apparent Holy Grail of parent's magazines. Needless to say, it didn't make me feel any better about my creative abilities. And, I gotta say, some of their costume ideas were cute that year. Thankfully, that year, my daughter decided that a hand-me-down medieval princess costume from her older cousin would be great. However, I was still at a loss for my son. FamilyFun to the rescue. They had a pretty cute robot costume. It was way over my head and required more supplies than I cared to buy so I did the best I could. Let me be clear about my crafting abilities. I have great ideas in my head but, as always, the execution is a little off.

I found an old box, cut some arm holes, a hole for his head and covered that bitch in tin-foil. Instant robot. Then my husband came home and thought it would be cool to punch holes in it and get lights that blink. Surely they must sell battery operated Christmas lights? Um, no. We compromised. He punched the holes and when it was time to go out trick or treating I taped some glow sticks on the inside so they would show through the holes. Instant lights, no batteries required.

Personally, my non-creative psyche thought it kicked ass.

And so began my love-hate relationship with that pesky publication. I bought a subscription. Over the years, I've renewed it here and there because sometimes there are some really cute ideas in there. The kids have filled my parent's house with homemade gifts that tug at their grandparent's heartstrings. Of course, they don't look as good as the ones that the professional crafter makes to be photographed for the mag, but hey... it's the thought that counts.

And yet, I haven't even flipped through the February issue I just got. I cringe at the thought of all those Valentine's Day crafts.

Until next time...