Being at the wrong place at the right time and Mini-sleepovers!
The Boy (he's 9) had a friend sleepover on Friday and, after his mom dropped him off, I asked for his backpack, pointed out where he and The Boy would sleep (I mean, the couch IS right next to the front door) and then I knelt down real low (I could hear the poor kid's neck muscles straining) and went over our house rules.
"Basically, there aren't any."
What?
He's NOT my kid and it IS a sleepover - he WILL eventually go home and, you know, tell his mother - and it's NOT like I expected them to actually sleep, or anything.
But, he still seemed a little weary - I recognized the confused sort of...WUH-HUH?...way he shook his head, right away - so, I continued.
"Want something, go and get it; spill something, clean it up and try not to break anything, 'mkay?"
Wuh-huh?
I mean, it was the weekend, the hubs was scheduled to work AGAIN (stupid bank!) and heaven knows The Boy needed a little testosterone fix!
"Can we go play football in the mud?"
[blank stare]
"SURE, and then we'll have a big bowl of M and M's for dinner and Mrs. Thompson will teach you how to spit in many different colors!"
[eyes go wide]
"For real?"
[hands on hips]
"NO!"
WHAT? I was trying to be funny and you had to see the poor kid's face.
"But, how about pizza and then we go to Blockbuster and rent a few games instead?"
Wuh-YEAH!
"Um...er...um...you ARE so cool...can I call you Liz?"
Why, yes - I rather enjoy being a goddess - thanks for asking and gosh, but I love it when my kids' friends think I'm nice.
Especially, at sleepovers!
"I'm wed-dee for my sweep-over, Momma!"
[eyes go wide]
"WUH-HUH...how come SHE gets to go to a sleepover?"
Mini-me is only 6 and my oldest kids weren't allowed to sleepover anyone else's house (except for their grandparents) until they were in 3rd grade, since I was...well...a lot meaner, then.
"Because, it's a mini-sleepover!"
Really, there were sign up sheets at the last troop meeting - Mini-me was awarded 7 badges, that day - and my husband and I first thought that it might have been a bad idea, since 6 is a bit too young for a sleepover.
So, I decided to call her leaders to cancel and then - while looking for their phone numbers - I was glad I took the time to, you know, actually read the letter.
"Our troop, however may still be a little to young and will not be sleeping over - maybe next year - pick up your Brownie at 10:00 p.m."
Well, that's fine then.
"Thing Two wet me use her bag!"
Yes, Mini-me was VERY excited - 10 o'clock is when all the cool kids go to bed, you know - and I pig-tailed her for the occasion.
"Where is everybody?"
I pulled into an empty parking lot and, at first, I actually thought I was WAY early, for once.
"Today IS Friday, right?"
I peeked into one of the windows and saw Mini-me's preschool teacher cleaning up for the night.
[knock-knock-knock]
"I'm sorry, but it looks like I must have gotten something wrong, AGAIN!"
[hands on hips]
"Well, can I at LEAST get a hug!?!?"
I'd forgotten how sweet Mini-me's preschool teacher really was - their girl scout meetings are held at the school - and she explained that I was only half-wrong.
"They were supposed to be here, but we're getting ready for our open house and they're meeting over at the OTHER church, tonight."
So, we kissed and hugged (again) and quickly buckled Mini-me in for our drive across town, to The Boy's old preschool, because we change preschools like some people in our neighborhood switch their cars.
[eyes go wide]
"Oh...my...GOSH!"
Yep, this must have been right the place, because there was absolutely NO place to park!
"Holy Hannah Montana, there's A LOT of girls here!"
Who knew there were THIS MANY Brownies in town?
"Take her things...she won't need her sleeping bag...there's no room to spread it out...oh, and you better take her jacket home, too!"
Huh?
"I'm sorry...say that last part, again...I couldn't hear you over ALL THE COUGHING!"
Man, but this was NOT a good place to be - especially, in the butt-crack of cold and flu season - and one of the leaders must have seen (and totally mis-understood) the weary look on my face.
"Would you like to stay?"
[eyes go wide]
"NO!"
Why, yes, I did run out of there pretty fast - oh, and to the lady with the high heels and fur coat...sorry, for knocking you (and your kid) over like that - but, I just HAD to get out that snake pit of germicidal little maniacs!
Don't get me wrong. I love MY children. But, I believe that - having four kids, so close together - I should, at least, give them an opportunity to experience some independence. I do, however, try NOT to expose them to dangerous situation, if I don't have to, or anyone else's kids, for that matter.
So, I had Garth (not his real name) go and pick her up after work - after all, he DESERVES a sick day - stupid bank!
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