A Prescription for Laughter

In the midst of a pandemic there are generally two choices in terms of mental health: curl up in a little ball and cry or make the best of it. We have tried to make the best of it and in the process, we’ve learned to laugh a bit about the crazy circumstances in which we find ourselves. I absolutely love Malia’s teacher (and miss being able to volunteer in her classroom) and like us, she’s developed a sense of humor. It’s completely normal for the elementary school set to make a Christmas tree ornament in school during the month of December, but I’m betting not many kids are bringing home ornaments like the ones Malia’s teacher had the kiddos create. I laughed. Out loud. Which is a good choice mental health wise.

 

Deck The Halls

One of the projects that has helped fill the boys' off-track time has been making Christmas tree ornaments out of salt dough. We started them the evening of the Sunday Daniel didn't get to see the Mo Tab concert. He was pretty bummed and I figured we needed something to perk him up. And what's better than pounding play dough? The boys loved rolling out the dough and cutting their shapes. Matthew's favorite part? Holding a big stick.


After the ornaments were dry, we got the paint out. Three boys+twenty-five paintbrushes+ a dozen colors of paint=bliss! Daniel and Nathan had an especially good time mixing their paints to create just the right color.




After the paint dried, we sealed them with a clear coat and tied on the ribbons. At last they are done! Seriously, this activity kept them busy for a week and cost us next to nothing. Everything we used (except the clear coat, two cans of which got lost when we moved) was already in the house.

(Matthew's Ornaments-he was sleeping when we took the pictures)

So be on the lookout. Some of you very important people may be the proud recipients of your very own salt dough ornament!