Being a parent of a toddler, never mind twins, can run the gamut of entertainment levels: sometimes it’s incredibly boring and repetitive, other times, it feels like you’re watching a train wreck on YouTube. So, when I decided to live-tweet a day at the beach with my son and daughter in 30+ degree weather, I didn’t know what to expect.
I did know that my story would a simple beginning, middle, and end. Toddlers thrive on routine, so I knew the beginning would generally be quite predictable. No sleeping in around here!
The quest to sleep in created some suspense – would this be the DAY THEY LET MOM AND DAD SLEEP IN TO A SOMEWHAT NORMAL TIME? [Spoiler: No. Never.]
I knew that depending on mood, weather and hunger level (or, triggers), the story had a million different directions it could take.
Surprise number one – a somewhat successful craft attempt!
This was a big deal. But, an even better surprise for mom and dad was the special appearance of a food truck that showed up just in time for lunch. After lugging all this gear to the beach, the chance to enjoy some tasty street food was an oasis on a hot day.
A pro tip is just let your kids eat your food as they won’t touch the food you buy for them. We’re still learning that one.
However, we knew the food, sun and swimming would do the trick. The climax was achieved, resolution was nearing – nap time was approaching.
A beautiful site to end a beautiful day. I knew the story would be relatable, would provide some rising and falling action, and most importantly, some sort of surprise.
It wasn’t our craziest day with twins by far, but still a memorable one.
EXSM 3989 - Digital Storytelling Class Blog 