Kids aren’t easy. They’re small and vulnerable despite thinking themselves invincible, and they’ve done nothing to deserve being exposed to the stresses of being an adult. A boring job and tight budget are complications for grown-ups, and while it’s OK for them to know they can’t have everything they ask for, it’s also important to let them grow and get stronger before dumping the weight of the world on their shoulders. It’s a magic trick equal parts honesty and sleight of hand, and not made any easier when raising a child alone.
Slice Of Life Parenting, One Day At a Time
Camille and Laurais a short point & click adventure game set over the course of a week, with Laura taking care of her five-year-old daughter as Camille starts her first few days at elementary school. The story is told using the art style of a kid drawing with crayons, albeit a talented kid who knows how to make the most of simple blobby shapes and not-even-close-to-straight lines to render kitchens, offices, schools, etc. Starting off making a basic breakfast, Laura needs to get Camille to school, survive work and make sure her daughter isn’t being exposed to the constant stress running just under her mother’s surface.
Camille and Laura is a short point & click adventure game set over the course of a week, with Laura taking care of her five-year-old daughter
A good example of this happens in the first day, when Laura needs to buy school supplies. Camille wants the pink-handled scissors, which are two whole dollars more than the black-handled ones, but this is just one purchase of many needed against a budget that’s uncomfortably small and needs to buy enough food to last until Thursday’s payday. It makes more sense to buy a twelve-pack of pencils than a four-pack, seeing as it’s $4.49 for four and $9.99 for twelve, but that doesn’t leave a lot of room for any unexpected issues in the coming week. But also those pencils are going to get used by a child one way or another, so it’s actually a savings to spend more but but but but but… And yeah, being poor with responsibilities sucks hard, but Camille is five years old and it’s far too early to expose her to the kind of mental gymnastics needed to get through the week as a single parent.
Personally, I went for the big pack of pencils and considered it an overall savings I could not only put towards the pink-handled scissors, but still come out ahead in the long run. So long as nothing explodes between now and Thursday it should be OK, right?
Camille and Laura released today and it’s a lovely balance of stress and caring, plus some really fun bits too. Hiding behind the shelf in the office break room in order to avoid having to talk to anyone is the most reasonable choice anyone can make and Laura tells a great bedtime story. It’s a big week for mother and daughter, and the days roll on with a mix of repetition and unneeded challenges. More than anything, though, Laura is going to take care of Camille despite the doubt, money issues, insomnia and all the other stresses that daily adult life throws her way.
Camille and Laura
