Care to have lunch with me?????????

"Lucy" ( as SOME of my friends like to refer to me ) had an experience today that she would like to share ( as I told one of my lunch mates...."You know those lists of things you're supposed to do before you die?? We can check this one off" 0_0 ).

I went to NOODLES today for a quick lunch ( I was out and about running errands etc ). The place was packed and I didn't realize that until AFTER I ordered my food and tried to find a table. Finally, a 4 seater became available and I was seated. I looked up at a mother and her 12 year old daughter and said " I don't mind if you want to join me " and the Mom ( who I came to know as "Sarah" ) said " you really don't mind?" And I assured her I did not. Meanwhile, an older woman at a booth said " I feel funny having this booth all to myself. In New York, you just sit wherever there's an opening " . Sarah turned to her and said " Why don't you join us too?" ( Now...either Sarah was being nice or she thought there was safety in numbers should I turn out to be a serial killer enjoying a penne rosa pasta dish at Noodles )> So...."Anita" ( originally from Manhattan 30 years ago ) joined us.

I had an hour lunch with people I've never met before and probably won't again - it was delightful.

I bet some of you would have done this too - or ...already have.

No longer a little girl......

Our oldest went to her first Prom - she's no longer a "little girl" in many ways yet she has so much to learn.

Have we done a good job? Will she remember what we've taught her? Will she always come to us when she needs us??

This parenting gig is tough but it has many rewards. I look at her and see the young lady I never was at her age. So smart....so beautiful....so poised.....so GOOD.

Take a moment and listen to the lyrics of this song ( don't peek at who sang it just yet ) and then reflect on your own lives as parents.

I Just Want To Take A Bath By Myself....Please!

I love to soak in a tub at night - I don't do it every night but often enough that I could qualify for being an amphibian.

Tonight - I had the various aches and pains from the day and I wanted to relax. Normally, I wait until everyone is in bed because it's quiet then and I'm less likely to be disturbed.....

However, I stepped into my pool of serenity ( aka hot bath in an old white tub ) earlier than usual. That, was my first mistake.

I'm in the tub relaxing when Jenna BARGES in ( yes...I say BARGE ). "Mom, I need to have you copy off my "ZINE" for me " The Zine is Jenna's magazine she writes for her classmates ( that's a whole other blog peeps )...... I patiently reply " Your Dad can help you with that"

Jenna responds " No Mom, he doesn't know how to copy front and back like you do"

Once again....I patiently reply " Jenna, he has a master's degree and he is an engineer -- he CAN do this"

We go round and round for a while when I finally say "Why are you still here...go ask Dad!! " ( ok...losing some patience now )....

The Cherub replies "Oh...I'm pooping"

0_0

"You're what????????"

Jenna says " I'm pooping "

Me " and why are you doing it here??"

Jenna " where else would I do it?"

Me "oh I dunno....maybe IN ONE OF THE FOUR OTHER BATHROOMS in this house!!"

Jenna chuckles and says " but then I couldn't talk to you"

Me " for heavens sakes how long does it take you to poop!?!"

Jenna " Oh I'm done...I'm just wiping really well so my butt won't itch later"

SIGH

Can't a person even take a bath without being interrupted by a pooping child???