"I am the Entertainer"

That's a line from a Billy Joel song, in case any of the 5 or so people reading this aren't as big of fans as I am. When I was in my early teens, I think I owned almost all of his tapes (yes, it was a pre-CD world). Anyway, that's a line that I think of often these days because I often feel like my job is to be an entertainer. Not to huge crowds in sold out arenas (like Billy Joel who I've seen live 4 times and is a great performer), but to very active kids living in a city filled with cold, rainy weekends and busy after-school schedules.

Mason has karate on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 5-5:45. It's a great class and the instructor gives feedback to the parents during class. That means that the other moms and I are sitting to the side trying to keep our younger kids entertained and quiet. This usually involves markers, Polly Pockets, tea sets, and lots of snacks. Through the luck of scheduling, Charlotte has ballet from 5-5:45 on Wednesday afternoons. At least the kids can run around a little during her class, but snacks and toys are also a must. It is not a time when it is easy to set up play dates to leave the kids at friends' houses. By 5, most kids are starting to get ready for dinner or are too tired to deal with sharing and entertaining friends.

Lattes actually help me get through these afternoons, but I've learned that I don't need caffeine that late in the day. Greentea is my late afternoon latte of choice these days. Starbucks also now offers a lovely selection of kid-friendly, semi-healthy snacks, but there is a hefty price tag associated with a pre-dinner run to Starbucks so I would suggest sticking to the drive-through. My latte for today (I should rename this blog My Weekly latte, I'll try to do better), is to pack a big bag of tricks if you're heading out late in the day. At least for Mary Jane, snacking is part of what gets her through the hour while her brother or sister exercise. She is happy to eat healthy snacks so it is up to me to make sure that's what is in the bag. It can be quality time to interact with kids without any TV or computers nearby if you're well prepared going into it.