Daft as a brush
Only half an hour to go until she is collected for her promised return sleepover. Her excitement fizzes from her ears. The minutes tick by slowly. I contemplate the prospect of dinner in a restaurant or a diner, as it will be cheaper with one less and easier to manage if their father comes home in time. It would make a nice treat for us too, possibly. She is packed and ready with enough stuffed animals to restock a zoo.
I step away from her and the window to answer the phone.
“Hello.”
“Oh hello Natalie there's been a change. Somethings come up.” I decide not to be annoyed that she can't remember my name.
“Oh dear.”
“I have to take my other daughter to the hospital for tests, so I can't have her over here tonight. It's in Stanford.”
“Oh dear, they'll be so disappointed.” I peek back at my daughter with her nose to the pane of glass. How am I ever going to explain? What on earth can I do to make it up to her?
“Yes I know, so I thought if you could have the sleepover at your house then the girls can be together.”
“Well….yes …..I suppose……… that might be for the best.”
“Great, we're in the car, should be there in a few minutes.”
“Oh….well…..what time will you be able to pick her up tomorrow?”
“3.”
“3?”
“Yeah when we're back from the hospital.”
“Right, I see……”
“Maybe her dad could pick her up…..earlier?”
“No, he's working.”
“Ah.”
“So we'll do the sleepover back here at our house another week.”
“Right. See you soon. Bye.”
I replace the receiver.
I decide that I am yet <a href=”http://alien-in-a-foreign-field.blogspot.com/2008/01/will-ofsoapsuds.html”>”again,”</a> completely out of my depth. I take a large onion, carrot and some celery from the fridge. I know now, that there are far too many things that I don't know and probably don't wish to know. I start chopping, supper for six. Would I forget an over night appointment for one of my children in a hospital? I conclude that although this might be unlikely, there have been many chaotic times in my own life. It is indeed entirely possible. An executive decision filters through my walnut sized brain. I am more than happy for the girls' friendship to blossom. Hence forward it will blossom within the confines of my own home, my own personal comfort zone. I may not have much control, but oddly enough, I enjoy far more knowns than unknowns.
February 2nd, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Well, this girl must be something special to put up with her mother’s absolute appalling shenanigans. That is very passive/aggressive behavior, to get a person’s name wrong like that.
Were it I, that mother would have gotten an ear full, and that car would have been turned around, heading homeward.
I’m completely steamed on your behalf . . . grrr
February 2nd, 2008 at 4:20 pm
I wonder if it’s true.
February 2nd, 2008 at 4:52 pm
The things we put ourselves through all for the sake of our children’s happiness! Hope it went well…
February 2nd, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Oh my goodness. I would have accidentally “dope slapped” her when she came to drop the other one off. You are far too kind.
February 2nd, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Hmmm. Quite a patient response on your part. I think I would have said, “Well, we’re going to have to reformat our evening plans over here given this change in expectations, so I don’t think we’ll be able to make a sleepover here fit into that. Maybe another time. Hope she’s OK.” Then I’d secretly flip her off. That always makes me feel better. Or…I would have done what you did, looked at my child, considered her wishes, and…said, “OK.”
February 2nd, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Wow, does her other child have some kind of cancer that they have to rush off periodically to test ANC or something? Fishy, for sure!
God bless you for being a bigger person, “Natalie!” MUCH bigger! Your kids are lucky.
February 2nd, 2008 at 6:24 pm
There are some things about others that we just never understand.. and in this case.. where would you start..?
Hope the evening and the change of plans go well xx.
February 2nd, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Oh my… that’s awfully last minute isn’t it?
February 2nd, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Hmmm… maybe mentioning that it is customary to ask permission to stay at someone else’s home overnight- and for another full day- BEFORE you get in the car? And oh, could she please stop at the store and pick up extra food and supplies, since you now have an unexpected TWO people in your home this evening?
February 2nd, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Oh my goodness! How presumtious and insensative of her! I would NOT have been so kind as many of your other noters have mentioned..
February 2nd, 2008 at 10:14 pm
Give them an inch…
February 2nd, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Did she actually say she forgot? Or do you think her ‘other child’ suddenly got sick?
However, forgetting your name was ridiculous!
February 2nd, 2008 at 10:43 pm
“daft”
I love that word–it really out to get used more here. It’s ripe for revival.
February 2nd, 2008 at 11:10 pm
I think you are too nice… I would have told her where to go! But then, I’m not nice. I hope the girls had a nice time anyway.
February 3rd, 2008 at 5:25 am
She should have just ASKED if you could watch her child so she could take the other one for tests. That at least would have been honest and a bit more polite.
February 3rd, 2008 at 5:25 am
She should have just ASKED if you could watch her child so she could take the other one for tests. That at least would have been honest and a bit more polite.
February 3rd, 2008 at 5:58 am
Would I forget an over night appointment for one of my children in a hospital? – No b/c you are an excellent Mother.
Hence forward it will blossom within the confines of my own home, my own personal comfort zone. – Excellent idea and everyone has an good visit with their friends.
Hope their sleepover went well. I would have “ordered in” and sent the hubby to pick it up
Sheri
February 3rd, 2008 at 6:02 am
Don’t even go there….
Kinda strange.
And if you believe that one, I have a bridge you can buy in New York.
Love you
Suzy
February 3rd, 2008 at 8:27 am
i don’t know this woman but it seems a bit presumptuous and forward of her to call you from her car assuming that it would be ok to switch venues and for you to have her daughter that long the next day. i completely understand your preference to control a few more variables with a person like this.
February 3rd, 2008 at 6:36 pm
Oh, wow. That is quite the predicament to be in, and the woman on the other end of the line…how incredibly rude both for presuming you would be okay with it and for forgetting your name. It would seem to be rather untruthful to me, really, how could you forget an overnight appt. Perhaps, if she had asked you to host the sleepover from the beginning, or with enough advance notice if it had really just come up, it would not have stung quite so much, eh?
February 4th, 2008 at 5:47 am
I kinda think she was taking advantage of you, but I am a total cynic.
March 19th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
its not the best song but its pretty cool