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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Comments
32 responses to “Being at the wrong place at the right time and Mini-sleepovers!”
You are such the cool mama, chicky. I LOVE the idea of a mini-sleepover.
Even though it is well past my bedtime…
🙂
You are such the cool mama, chicky. I LOVE the idea of a mini-sleepover.
Even though it is well past my bedtime…
🙂
You are such the cool mama, chicky. I LOVE the idea of a mini-sleepover.
Even though it is well past my bedtime…
🙂
You are such the cool mama, chicky. I LOVE the idea of a mini-sleepover.
Even though it is well past my bedtime…
🙂
Some of my fondest childhood memories was of sleepovers. I was part of a trio of girls, and we alternated Friday nights at each other’s house when I was in fourth grade. We’d always get pizza and a stupid movie. — I hope I figure out how to be the cool mom when my kids are ready.
Some of my fondest childhood memories was of sleepovers. I was part of a trio of girls, and we alternated Friday nights at each other’s house when I was in fourth grade. We’d always get pizza and a stupid movie. — I hope I figure out how to be the cool mom when my kids are ready.
Some of my fondest childhood memories was of sleepovers. I was part of a trio of girls, and we alternated Friday nights at each other’s house when I was in fourth grade. We’d always get pizza and a stupid movie. — I hope I figure out how to be the cool mom when my kids are ready.
Some of my fondest childhood memories was of sleepovers. I was part of a trio of girls, and we alternated Friday nights at each other’s house when I was in fourth grade. We’d always get pizza and a stupid movie. — I hope I figure out how to be the cool mom when my kids are ready.
Amber: We were lucky – the boys crashed at 11:00 p.m. – if it were my girls, well, might as well just stay up and make breakfast.
Cheryl: Just let the kids eat, drink and be whatever they want. You’ll be Queen, for a night ;o)
Amber: We were lucky – the boys crashed at 11:00 p.m. – if it were my girls, well, might as well just stay up and make breakfast.
Cheryl: Just let the kids eat, drink and be whatever they want. You’ll be Queen, for a night ;o)
Amber: We were lucky – the boys crashed at 11:00 p.m. – if it were my girls, well, might as well just stay up and make breakfast.
Cheryl: Just let the kids eat, drink and be whatever they want. You’ll be Queen, for a night ;o)
Amber: We were lucky – the boys crashed at 11:00 p.m. – if it were my girls, well, might as well just stay up and make breakfast.
Cheryl: Just let the kids eat, drink and be whatever they want. You’ll be Queen, for a night ;o)
Oh, the memories…of being a Brownie leader and trying to con a few other moms into doing the sleepover with me! At least one said she’d camp, but not do the overnight thing at the school. She was the smart one.
Oh, the memories…of being a Brownie leader and trying to con a few other moms into doing the sleepover with me! At least one said she’d camp, but not do the overnight thing at the school. She was the smart one.
Oh, the memories…of being a Brownie leader and trying to con a few other moms into doing the sleepover with me! At least one said she’d camp, but not do the overnight thing at the school. She was the smart one.
Oh, the memories…of being a Brownie leader and trying to con a few other moms into doing the sleepover with me! At least one said she’d camp, but not do the overnight thing at the school. She was the smart one.
Sounds like our Brownie craziness! Great picture of you!
Sounds like our Brownie craziness! Great picture of you!
Sounds like our Brownie craziness! Great picture of you!
Sounds like our Brownie craziness! Great picture of you!
Hey! I want a mini sleepover with my friends. That sounds great.
Did you put makeup on for that pic or are you always that pretty during the day? Man, you’re making some of us look bad.
Hey! I want a mini sleepover with my friends. That sounds great.
Did you put makeup on for that pic or are you always that pretty during the day? Man, you’re making some of us look bad.
Hey! I want a mini sleepover with my friends. That sounds great.
Did you put makeup on for that pic or are you always that pretty during the day? Man, you’re making some of us look bad.
Hey! I want a mini sleepover with my friends. That sounds great.
Did you put makeup on for that pic or are you always that pretty during the day? Man, you’re making some of us look bad.
Mom-101: Interestingly enough, I was just thinking the same thing…about YOU ;o)
Mom-101: Interestingly enough, I was just thinking the same thing…about YOU ;o)
Mom-101: Interestingly enough, I was just thinking the same thing…about YOU ;o)
Mom-101: Interestingly enough, I was just thinking the same thing…about YOU ;o)
ah sleepover at friends…those were fun 🙂
especially pizza and blockbuster!
ah sleepover at friends…those were fun 🙂
especially pizza and blockbuster!
ah sleepover at friends…those were fun 🙂
especially pizza and blockbuster!
ah sleepover at friends…those were fun 🙂
especially pizza and blockbuster!