Stood up
Pin pricks of panic tweak my brain stem as the minutes pass, more birthday party guests arrive and there is no sign of his dad. Two hours of merriment seems more and more unlikely as friends gather to celebrate his 8th birthday at a local venue.
Parents depart one by one leaving me with an assortment of 14 children, three of my own, nine special needs children and two extra siblings, just to make it that little bit more fun. I am the only adult person present and not particularly responsible.
I make a dash for the back door to check it is locked and then to the front entrance where there is a youthful chap behind the till, “don’t let any of them leave!” I squeak and skuttle back to the smalls. I know for a fact that I have at least three bolters in my charge and two of them are mine!
I spend one hundred and twenty minutes in a state of high alert, encouraging climbers to remain earthbound, persuading picky eaters to shrug it off, negotiating disputes and opening those tricky juice pouches.
There are no meltdowns, no escapes and very little ill will.
As the last child is collected, I am ready with my sigh of relief. I am about to give myself a hearty pat on the back for my outstanding service to a successful social scene when light dawns. The success has absolutely nothing to do with me and everything to do with the children. Each and every one of them is bigger, brighter and possibly happier than a few years ago.
Congratulations not so little people!
December 4th, 2008 at 12:23 am
oh that party thing – eeek! we gave up on them very early on – we now have people round for a meal which works much better for us. well done on getting through it all unscathed!
December 4th, 2008 at 2:17 am
Well done for surviving that all by yourself! I would have demanded at least one parent to stay with me!
December 4th, 2008 at 2:27 am
Only pin pricks of panic! Or is that typical understatement?.
I’m very impressed. I too would have begged for another adult to stay.
December 4th, 2008 at 5:27 am
Wow, that is extremely brave of you! That’s a LOT to handle! I was reading my friends blog (toss it to the universe-in my blogroll)the other day, she has a recently diagnosed nephew with autism. It amazes me how well family adapts and their whole lives become so different. But I look in amazement rather than sorrow, because it seems to me that looking from the outside in that these families are very strong very nuturing and resilient. Ahhh, to have one tenth the fortitude.
December 4th, 2008 at 7:00 am
I detest drink pouches. Shudder.
Congratulations not so little people!
)
(Sweetums goes beserk if you sing the birthday song. Always has.)
December 4th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Congrats to you to surviving! I think the anxiety might have killed me. I hope the birthday boy had a grand time!
P.S. Another award for you –>
December 4th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
I don’t think I’ve ever opened one of those juice pouches. We stick to the juice boxes.
We haven’t had a birthday party for anyone older than a 6 year-old, but we always encouraged parents to stay. I suppose as the children get older they won’t like that.
December 4th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Oh, I’d bet there were some words later, though.
December 4th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Kudos on a successful party! Yes, it’s amazing the differecne a year can make, eh?
December 4th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Don’t even try to tell me that this party’s success was all about the kids. Had I been in charge, it would have been bedlam. Kids running in the street. Meltdowns aplenty. Cake in someone’s hair (mine). Piddle on the floor (not mine).
You rock.
December 6th, 2008 at 7:41 am
You the Woman! Giving you the credit for a wonderful experience for all – ‘cept your hubby, afterwards, eh?