FAMILY
A DAY AT THE PLAYGROUND with Auntie MacGyver...
by Sabah el Fizazi
March 8th, 2025
I have a CONFESSION to make: I’m not a FAN of playgrounds. The noise, the chaos, the endless potential INJURIES – scraped knees and bumped heads – it drives me INSANE. But for Younes, my BLUE-EYED nephew, and my nieces, MIMI and GIGI, I put my feelings aside. I knew it would mean the WORLD to them to visit the playground. Little did I know that this VISIT would turn into an unexpected ADVENTURE.
“I AM NOT A FAN OF PLAYGOUNDS.”
It was a SUMMER HOLIDAY, and while most people probably went to the BEACH, I found the playground all EMPTY. Just the way I like it! Younes, a spirited four-year-old, was thrilled to be at the playground with Mimi and Gigi, who followed him like two PUPPIES. I watched them carefully, my heart full of LOVE for this precious FAMILY REUNION, as they climbed, slid, and swung, their laughter filling the EMPTY playground.
After an hour, the THREE MUSKETEERS decided it was time to conquer the SANDBOX. They dove barefooted in the warm sand. I sat on a nearby bench, enjoying the sun while reading my book for this summer, The story of Edgar Sawtelle. What could happen in a sandbox?
“WHAT COULD HAPPEN IN A SANDBOX.”
Suddenly, I heard a LOUD cry. I looked up from my e-reader to see Younes HYSTERICALLY rubbing his eyes, his face in pain. My heart skipped a BEAT as I rushed to his side, Gigi and Mimi looking equally shocked (and GUILTY).
“Sand… in my eyes,” he managed to whisper, his TINY hands and half his FACE all covered in SAND. He started RUBBING his eyes with his SANDY hands. I knew this would only make things worse. I needed to ACT fast. Channeling my inner MacGyver, I quickly looked around for a SOLUTION.
“CHANNELING MY INNER MACVYVER, I QUICKLY LOOKED AROUND FOR A SOLUTION.”
First, I REMOVED his shirt and used the (clean) INSIDE to wipe his hands and face. Then I grabbed a spray bottle of THERMAL WATER, which I always carry with me on hot days, and carefully sprayed his CLOSED eyes, the fine mist slowly diluting the sand. Younes began to CALM down, but I could still see grains clinging to his long LASHES and the CORNERS of his eyes.
Next, I took the WATERMELON his mom had packed for a snack. I gently MASSAGED the watermelon cubes over his sandy eyes. “Trust me, Auntie is going to save you,” I whispered. The cool liquid of the watermelon seemed to help, and I could feel Younes’ body starting to RELAX.
Finally, I sprayed my linen DRESS with the thermal water and used IT to clean his face and hands. His eyes looked REDDISH, but at least he SMILED.
“I GENTLY MASSAGED THE WATERMELON CUBES OVER HIS SANDY EYES.”
With the CRISIS over, Younes looked up at me with a mix of RELIEF and gratitude. “My eyes ARE better, Auntie,” he said softly. Gigi and Mimi HUGGED him tightly, their worry becoming SMILES as they saw he was okay. Deep down, I FELT it was (one of) them who had thrown SAND in his eyes, but I wasn’t a HUNDRED percent sure. And it was too hot to INTERROGATE three toddlers.
I hugged them ALL, and in that moment, I realized that being an AUNT wasn’t just about fun and games. It was about being THERE in times of need, finding solutions in unexpected ways, and showing LOVE through actions, no matter how SMALL they might seem.
As we sat on the bench, sharing the remaining WATERMELON, Younes asked to call HIS mom. I dialed her number, and after giving her a BRIEF introduction, I handed the phone to Younes.
“IT WAS TOO HOT TO INTERROGATE THREE TODDLERS.”
“Mom, AUNTIE made my eyes BETTER!” he exclaimed. “She PUT watermelon on my EYES, and Mom, can you buy the SPRAY with water too?” I could hear his mom’s warm laughter on the other end. “Of course, SWEETHEART. I’ll get one. I will ask Auntie to send me a picture of THE SPRAY.”
P.S.: TO ALL THE AUNTIES IN THE WORLD, WE MIGHT NOT BE AS WELL-PREPARED AS THE MOMS, BUT WE ALL HAVE AN INNER MACGYVER AND THAT’S ALL THE LITTLE ONES NEED IN TIMES OF DESPAIR.