Good Lies Make Good Neighbors
It's been a long day. I had to take Evan to the Pediatrician for his one year well check. Since everyone in town goes to this same doctor, I had to be there early so I wouldn't be there all day. It meant I had to be showered, dressed, hair and makeup done and out the door at 7:45 a.m. Oh, yeah, and Evan needed to be fed and dressed as well. That was a challenge!
The day didn't slow down. During Evan's afternoon nap Zachary and I went to the driving range. It was quite crowded. Zachary pulled out his driver and proclaimed "It's time to let the big dog eat" which drew tons of laughter from the other golfers. That kid is too much. Anyway, all day long I knew I needed to think of something to cook for dinner. I still have a horrible toothache, so nothing was exciting me too much. I do, however, need to feed my kids dinner.
Evan slept late, I went upstairs to get him up at 4:15, planning on changing clothes and taking the kids to the grocery store. The second I got undressed, as it always happens, the doorbell rings and someone knocks furiously on the front door. It was one of the new neighborhood kids, age 3 1/2, and his father. The child and his older brothers (ages 8 & 9) have been over before, but this was the first time I'd met the father. He seemed nice enough so I invited him in while the kids started playing. Zachary was happy to have a friend over and the new neighbor was chatty. Then the father asked if he could leave his kid with me for a couple of hours so he could get some work done (my mind did this quick rewind thing and I realize he'd been setting me up with his story about how much he had to do and couldn't get done today, blah blah blah).
*Now let me interrupt the story for a minute to say I do not mind playdates, I rather enjoy them. I like having kids playing at my house. It allows me to monitor the play and keep Evan on his nap schedule. I prefer these types of things planned instead of just dumped on me.
So I smiled and said I would love to have him stay but the kids and I were going out for dinner. I further explained that we eat dinner early. I told him of my reputation as the schedule nazi of the neighborhood. He chuckled and said he thought schedules were good, but they have 5 kids and no real schedule anymore. Just as I suspected, if I hadn't come up with my little lie (that was only sort of a lie) I'm sure our new friend would still be here at bedtime.
So, after they left I packed the kids up in the car and we went to Dee's for dinner. Everything turned out much better than I imagined. I got grilled Mahi. Evan ate some Mahi, collard greens, mashed potatoes, lima beans, and sweet potato fries. Zachary ate Mahi, collard greens, and sweet potato fries. I brought along some pears for the kids, so they got fish, veggies, and a little fruit. And I got beer. Not too bad considering I procrastinated and didn't cook a thing.
Both kids were all smiles at dinner, something that hasn't happened in a while. During dinner the Ray Charles version of "Hit the Road, Jack" came on. I sang that once in the car to Zachary a while back, so when it came on his eyes lit up. We sang and laughed. Then he asked why they didn't want Jack to come back no more no more no more no more. I told him Jack wasn't very nice to his friends. Then he asked why Jack was being mean. I launched into another song by saying he was having a "Bad Day" - the opening song in the Alvin and the Chipmunks movie. That got Evan giggling, which got Zachary giggling, and nothing melts my heart like watching my children laugh.
We got home a little late, and the kids got to bed a little late, but it was a glorious end to a long day.
The day didn't slow down. During Evan's afternoon nap Zachary and I went to the driving range. It was quite crowded. Zachary pulled out his driver and proclaimed "It's time to let the big dog eat" which drew tons of laughter from the other golfers. That kid is too much. Anyway, all day long I knew I needed to think of something to cook for dinner. I still have a horrible toothache, so nothing was exciting me too much. I do, however, need to feed my kids dinner.
Evan slept late, I went upstairs to get him up at 4:15, planning on changing clothes and taking the kids to the grocery store. The second I got undressed, as it always happens, the doorbell rings and someone knocks furiously on the front door. It was one of the new neighborhood kids, age 3 1/2, and his father. The child and his older brothers (ages 8 & 9) have been over before, but this was the first time I'd met the father. He seemed nice enough so I invited him in while the kids started playing. Zachary was happy to have a friend over and the new neighbor was chatty. Then the father asked if he could leave his kid with me for a couple of hours so he could get some work done (my mind did this quick rewind thing and I realize he'd been setting me up with his story about how much he had to do and couldn't get done today, blah blah blah).
*Now let me interrupt the story for a minute to say I do not mind playdates, I rather enjoy them. I like having kids playing at my house. It allows me to monitor the play and keep Evan on his nap schedule. I prefer these types of things planned instead of just dumped on me.
So I smiled and said I would love to have him stay but the kids and I were going out for dinner. I further explained that we eat dinner early. I told him of my reputation as the schedule nazi of the neighborhood. He chuckled and said he thought schedules were good, but they have 5 kids and no real schedule anymore. Just as I suspected, if I hadn't come up with my little lie (that was only sort of a lie) I'm sure our new friend would still be here at bedtime.
So, after they left I packed the kids up in the car and we went to Dee's for dinner. Everything turned out much better than I imagined. I got grilled Mahi. Evan ate some Mahi, collard greens, mashed potatoes, lima beans, and sweet potato fries. Zachary ate Mahi, collard greens, and sweet potato fries. I brought along some pears for the kids, so they got fish, veggies, and a little fruit. And I got beer. Not too bad considering I procrastinated and didn't cook a thing.
Both kids were all smiles at dinner, something that hasn't happened in a while. During dinner the Ray Charles version of "Hit the Road, Jack" came on. I sang that once in the car to Zachary a while back, so when it came on his eyes lit up. We sang and laughed. Then he asked why they didn't want Jack to come back no more no more no more no more. I told him Jack wasn't very nice to his friends. Then he asked why Jack was being mean. I launched into another song by saying he was having a "Bad Day" - the opening song in the Alvin and the Chipmunks movie. That got Evan giggling, which got Zachary giggling, and nothing melts my heart like watching my children laugh.
We got home a little late, and the kids got to bed a little late, but it was a glorious end to a long day.
posted by Melanie @ 8:12 PM
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