It is well and truly Autumn here in Caledon… the leaves are golden, ruby, tangerine; the turkeys, coons and deer show up often, to dine on luscious, over-ripe crab apples... the smell of wood smoke is often wafting by on a chilly breeze… and the Mitten Mambo is now danced energetically at houses across the region every single morning.
I will wager that every mother in Caledon who reads this will know what I am talking about. It is a dance as old as time…
For those of you who don’t have kids, know kids and were never kids yourself, the Mitten Mambo is that last minute, panic –stricken foray into the hall closet, feverishly looking for a pair of hand warming devices that match… or even sort of match… or at least weren’t both originally intended for the same hand.
Now it should be noted that - to be done correctly - the Mitten Mambo MUST be timed to take place when the school bus is within 2 minutes of your bus stop. Any earlier and it loses its excitement.
It should take place in a state of escalating panic or it just isn’t satisfying. And I personally feel that it is at its very best when at least two children are looking for gloves at the same time, as this can turn it into a contact sport, and (as a wee bonus) gives the nearest parent some referee experience leading up to the hockey season.
Now I’ve been told some “less-than-adventurous” types have been known to try and avoid this game altogether by buying case lots of mittens from local dollar stores. To this I must mutter a resounding “shame, shame!”! Why would you want to deprive your children of the opportunity to wear one grey and pink striped mitten and one blue fleece glove rather than go bare handed? Have you no sense of style?
Ah… the Mitten Mambo… fall and winter just wouldn’t be the same without it!
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go hide one of each of our gloves and mittens… morning comes early.
I will wager that every mother in Caledon who reads this will know what I am talking about. It is a dance as old as time…
For those of you who don’t have kids, know kids and were never kids yourself, the Mitten Mambo is that last minute, panic –stricken foray into the hall closet, feverishly looking for a pair of hand warming devices that match… or even sort of match… or at least weren’t both originally intended for the same hand.
Now it should be noted that - to be done correctly - the Mitten Mambo MUST be timed to take place when the school bus is within 2 minutes of your bus stop. Any earlier and it loses its excitement.
It should take place in a state of escalating panic or it just isn’t satisfying. And I personally feel that it is at its very best when at least two children are looking for gloves at the same time, as this can turn it into a contact sport, and (as a wee bonus) gives the nearest parent some referee experience leading up to the hockey season.
Now I’ve been told some “less-than-adventurous” types have been known to try and avoid this game altogether by buying case lots of mittens from local dollar stores. To this I must mutter a resounding “shame, shame!”! Why would you want to deprive your children of the opportunity to wear one grey and pink striped mitten and one blue fleece glove rather than go bare handed? Have you no sense of style?
Ah… the Mitten Mambo… fall and winter just wouldn’t be the same without it!
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go hide one of each of our gloves and mittens… morning comes early.
girl,
ReplyDeleteyou've got a way with words!
and having had family in the "far north"
i can see the traces of cabin fever.
has snow even hit caledon yet?
you'd best check the scotch inventory
and the woodpile
it's gonna' be a long winter
Shelly,you have talent.We(Ray & I)think you should write a newspaper/magazine column.Is there a book in your future? Love your blog. It's very funny and hugely entertaining.
ReplyDeleteThanks for following my blog, and for your very kind words, Elsie! A book of my own will have to wait for now, but actually, there is a book coming up!
ReplyDeleteIt isn't a personal writing project, but is one that has become very dear to my heart. I am collaborating with local photographer Lisa Scale to put together a book called "Focus on Heroes: Beyond The Uniform". Its a collection of photographic portraits and biography's that honour a group of 10 individuals in our area.
Our "heroes" all work (or have worked) within one of the four levels of service (military, police, fire, ems) and go above and beyond the call of their individual uniform to do charitable or volunteer work for their community or their countrymen.
The portraits and the book will be unveiled in early November, and the book will go on sale soon after. All proceeds from the project will go to the Tema Conter Charitable Trust - a charity that was founded by one of our "heroes" and which helps educate emergency workers and the public about the traumatic, lingering effects of critical-incident stress.
Shelly ,
ReplyDeleteI was in style with my kids and never knew it . The kids didn;t seem to mind either they liked having different hand covers
vicki