As a work-at-home mom, my two older children are often left to their own creative devices for two or three hours each morning as I work on articles and upcoming deadlines. I try not to intervene unless I hear a fair amount of screaming and squabbling that doesn’t resolve in an appropriate manner or length of time and, for the most part, my kids are quite adept at amusing themselves alone and with each other.

Lately I have noticed an increase in the number of toys and pieces of jewelry making their way into my freezer, suspended in tiny dishes of frozen liquid. This science experiment has provided an endless amount of amusement, as they then like to hold each frozen item under a trickle of hot water and produce holes and indentations in the ice. Can you remember when you were so easily pleased?

However, their icecapades have taken a backseat to their new fascination: teepees. 

Polly is an outdoorsy type of girl, despite her dress and long, blond highlights. You won’t find her “roughing-it” at those five-star camping resorts, no. Polly fashions her all-natural dwelling using her own two hands and a bit of brawn. And after she’s completed the task (without a man’s intervention, mind you), Polly pulls up a chair and admires her hard work.

What are your kids up to today?