Last week we spent most of our days in the garage. My kids and I transformed it at the start of Summer break from a cluttered space with bikes, giant spiders and boxes into a maker/play space.

Essentially we cleaned it out, scrubbed the floor, put a magnetic screen up over the opening of the garage door and threw bright blue floor tiles down. Then I hauled out their crafting tables and the space has evolved from there. Slowly, paints, clay, beads and other art supplies have made their way out along with a handful of toys. Namely blocks. Every few days we pick it all up and sweep the floor. It’s been ridiculously simple to maintain and the house isn’t a total disaster because we mainly go inside for food.

My kids flow steadily in and out to play on the driveway, putter in the garden, hunt for fireflies and play baseball or tag. In the garage they have been making things or creating elaborate magical worlds with blocks and unicorns and Scooby Doo.

If I had to guess, they’ve probably spent more time outside this summer break (not including pool time) than they ever have just because they can go ride a bike and then bust through the screen on said bike, snag a hug a drink and a second to cool down and then fly back out. No slamming doors, smashed fingers, escaped animals or bugs flying in.

The Beauty Of How This Ties in With The Stop Motion

Ultimately, this is a shared space. As an artist and mom creating helps me show up better for my kids, my family and myself. Getting to create alongside them whether their immersed in imaginary worlds or making things takes all the good things that come from making and just expands upon it exponentially. I absolutely love getting to hang around them. Even through the distraction, occasional meltdowns and whatever else comes with sharing the space, it’s so worth it.

So naturally, my favorite aspect about this stop motion and working around them in general, is the way motherhood pokes through from every direction as the work evolves (even this sentence was typed with my kids assistance). The ways we interact, their play and glimpses of silliness… it’s all in there. They even took a lot of the photos that make up the video and when I sat down to finish putting it all together the other day my son plopped down in my lap to help me finish.

This space was not flipped and made particularly aesthetically pleasing. There are bins on metal shelves that hold house painting supplies and tools and outdoor toys. On rainy days the lighting is dark and gloomy and the string lights come on. There’s an old white table cloth that’s pulled out for every family gathering hanging in front of steps and a grubby railing that lead to the basement and the only thing to combat the afternoon heat and mugginess is an old, ugly tower fan that still functions beautifully. It is far from Pinterest worthy but I think that’s exactly why it’s being used so much. It’s not precious, it’s built for messes and easy clean up. Muddy boots, paint flying (it happens okay?), toys and art supplies mingling and most importantly? Getting to do it together.

I hope if you also find yourself on summer break with kids you get to find some of the magic in that too.

-Somehow this post was squeaked out in between four days of going to Girl Scout Camp with my oldest, also 10/10. It’s been the best week ever.

I’ll be back same time next week with more to share…

xoxo,

Bec