Clownmommy

After rehearsal, we came back to the apartment, Lorraine got to work  and I had a few minutes to check e-mail, then I had to go get on the train to go pick up My Kid at school by 3:00 o’clock.  I was a little late, but I slowed myself down even further when I ran into another mommy who was getting off the train with 3 large bags of art supplies.  So I walked to the school with her and helped her carry one of her bags.  She’s working on an art degree, and had just spent a couple hundred dollars at the art store because she has four paintings due on Monday.  (Last night I enjoyed sitting in the front room with Lorraine as she cut out shadow puppets.  I lapsed into reverie about the way I used to be able to work late into the night…  Since My Kid started all day school I have struggled with trying to “work” during the day.  For creative work, that has been difficult for me. Unless I’ve gone into a studio or talked through a project–as I read this I realize I can work with other people during the day but to work by myself–I work best in the middle of the night.  That’s not so easy when My Kid is on a school schedule.  Where was I…Oh yeah I was describing my day…Let’s see, I got as far as pick-up.  I was a little late.  Art Mommy and I collected our kids from the auditorium–where the kids whose parents or caregivers failed to appear at exactly 3 o’clock are contained. Then My Kid led me out to the damp playground where the usual suspects were assembled.  I gave postcards to some of the other mommies, but I don’t expect them to come.  This particular performance on 9/11 is not very parent friendly. I’ve invited some local mommies to come see my rehearsal in the same room where the local toddler “Music Together” classes are held at the South Oxford Space.  They may show up.  My Kid and I took the 2/3 train so we could walk away from the school in the same directions as her friends.  We stopped at Target to look for a gooseneck clip-on lamp for the shadow puppets.  No luck.  Bought some heavy cans of soup and spagetti-os to walk home with.  We found what we were looking for at Office Max.  When we got home Lorraine was on the front stoop applying paper mache to the alien baby head.  So we sat and talked, and chatted to the neighbors who passed by.

Now, pasta, beer and laptops for every adult in the room.  My Kid has her homework.  E-mails and phone calls continue, but our outside life is over for the day.  Time to wash the dishes and put My Kid to bed.