Quantity vs Quality

Week 4 Day 1

Before I had children, I once heard a man say, "I don't get to spend a lot of time with my kids, but the time I do spend is quality time."  Once I had children, I realized what an inaccurate statement that was.  One cannot plan quality time with kids and expect it to work out that way.  Oh, you might get lucky now and then, because as my daddy used to always say, "even a blind pig finds an acorn now and then," but you cannot ever be sure when kids are going to turn into wackos.

Today at camp was "Civics Day."  Reservations were made for our tour of the Tennessee Residence (Governor's mansion), almost two weeks ago.  We were all dressed in our Mellie Summer Camp of Excellence tee shirts, proudly claiming what a fine camp it is. We met at the "River" and prayed over our day. Excitement was running high.  Cameras were all filled with fresh batteries and off we went, Mellie explaining about the three branches of the government ~ Legislative makes the laws, Judicial interprets the laws, and Executive enforces the laws.  Repeat after me...the governor's name is Bill Haslam!

We arrive at the beautiful residence and the tour begins in Preservation Hall.  As luck would have it, our tour guide was a friend of Mellie's and so we chatted and caught up as we waited for everyone who was scheduled for the tour to arrive.  There were 12 of us.  The tour began.  Today, I was accompanied by Eeyore and Tigger.  Oh.my.word.  The bouncing and the pouting and the LOUD "whispers," and the semi-rough housing.  The picture taking...Max took pictures of the bathroom door.  I don't even know why; I don't.  The time came to actually go into the mansion.  Both boys ran off to the side of the house, but they did come nicely when I called them.  Our guide, who was finding them so precious at the get-go was, just possibly, feeling the tiny bit stressed.  We managed to make it through the foyer, but Simmy found the brochures.  The boy never met a brochure he didn't like and so, for some unknown reason felt it his responsibility to make sure everybody had one, in spite of my admonitions that he could only get one.  Finally, I turned and they were in each other's faces whispering like a deaf person in church, shushing each other.  I asked the security guard if it was okay for us to leave, and he assured me without hesitation that yes, that would be fine.

One boy declared this the "worst day of Mellie Camp ever."  When I asked why they could not behave with a bit more decorum, they both informed me that they didn't want to come to the Governor's mansion in the first place.  I had promised them a treat if everybody acted nicely.  As we were driving away, Simmy had the audacity to ask if they had earned their treat.  I told him that they had not, but that Mellie Camp was a place of grace, and while they did not earn it, I was going to gift them with their treat.  So, off we go to buy $12 worth of Mexican popsicles.  After one lick, each boy declared that they would be getting a different flavor next time.  That's fine, little dudes, but you will be eating this flavor today.  Popsicles were eaten and one kiddo decided that he needed to potty.  That started, for me, the nightmare of the day.  Let's just say, that the pottying did not go quickly nor efficiently, and was accompanied by the other one turning in circles, talking loudly and sticking his head under the really loud hand dryer.  I seriously thought we would never get out of there, but after 1/2 a roll of toilet paper, hands washed multiple times, and the XELERATOR hand dryer, which sounds like an airplane, being set off at least 100 times, we were ready to walk out of there.  Every person in the popsicle store was looking at the door and laughing as we left.

Off to Sevier Park to do what little boys like to do....run free and play. A stop at The Parent Teacher Store for $2 worth of brass paper fasteners.  $20 later we head home for lunch and our Civics project.  I had to fight Simmy to not write "Fat Donald Trump" on his Executive of the Federal Government page, but I did win that one.  Then, wonder of all wonders...we made cars.  We worked with bottle tops, clay, cardboard, straws, wooden skewers, hot glue, straws, and duct tape.  We made two powerful cars and took them to the hallway to have a race.  Balloons were blown up through the straws ~ get ready, get set, GO!  Nothing.  They went nowhere.  Not even an inch.  I laughed hysterically.  The boys were offended that I found humor in the debacle.  I was just thinking that each car probably cost $7 considering all the supplies I bought.  They did nothing.  They went nowhere.  A movie, dinner, baths, rounded out our day.

Don't speak to me of quality time with kids, with spouses, with friends.  It takes quantity to get quality.  Today wasn't our best camp day.  It may have been the worst Mellie Camp day of all.  But, we redeemed it, and all in all, I would say it was a pretty good day.  But if it had been our only "quality time" day, we would have been sorely disappointed.