Hello writing to you from a place of revenge bedtime procrastination regret which means tonight will be movie night. Speaking of movies, a few options going on rn are the Newport Dunes Movies on the Beach, OC Park Sunset Cinema (on Fridays) or Regal Summer Movies for $1.

What’s going on here:

🇺🇸 Why We Do the Fourth of July

🎬 Why We Celebrate the Fourth of July, FreeSchool, the Declaration of Independence, the original 13 colonies, and why July 4th is the country's birthday, at a kid's level without putting anyone to sleep. ~3 min · Ages 4+ · free on YouTube

📜 Activity: Write Your Own Declaration of Independence, paper, markers, a "fancy" pen if you've got one. Have your kid declare independence from something (bedtime, broccoli, the 7am wake-up) → write the reasons → everyone signs it big and dramatic ~15 min

🎆 What's Actually Exploding Up There

🎬 How Do Fireworks Work?, Mocomi, the three things every firework needs and why different metals make different colors (copper = blue, sodium = yellow). Honestly information most adults don't have either, so. Short animated · Ages 5+ · free on YouTube
🎨 Activity: Fireworks in a Jar, clear jar, warm water, a few tablespoons of oil, food coloring, a fork. Fill the jar with warm water → mix drops of food coloring into the oil and stir → pour the oil on top and watch the colored drops sink and "burst." ~10 min, no cooking, do it over the sink, your kid will lose it.

Yes, I realize the concept of having more than five friends if you are over the age of 30 is a little insane let alone all their email addresses BUT if you are one of those people who has both, I’ve added a new referral thing (I also just wanted to have…tons of these on hand because I love them so much). So if those 20 friends are cool with a slightly unhinged email newsletter and sign up to subscribe, share and I’ll send you one of these!

What does it mean?
📚 = library event
🍊 = recurring event
🍻/🍷 = get your drink on
🎵 = live music (for adults)

🤝 Brunch Run | Garden Grove | Sunday 8:30 AM | @motherrunners_oc | RSVP on Partiful

📌 the events in this section are ones that fall on the weekend, but a lot of these groups have events during the week as well in case you’re looking for more!

As always, if you have anything you want to submit (events, news, hacks, recipes), feedback or hate mail, feel free to hit reply.

This newsletter will always be free, but if you’d like to support Shitty Mom Guide, consider buying me a coffee. This newsletter is a forever work-in-progress and wouldn’t be possible without you.

Much love and caffeine,
Frances