The meanest mom in the whole damn town
Last weekend, some of the kids in the neighborhood organized a lemonade stand. They mixed it up, dragged a table down to the corner, colored a bunch of signs, and handed out cup after cup of lemonade to indulgent passers-by.
I had absolutely nothing to do with it all. Except for supplying sugar, water, ice, and lemon juice – and mopping the kitchen floor afterward.
No, it was Kyle who reminded the kids of all the details they overlooked, made sure they had on plenty of sunscreen, and even bought a cup of lemonade. Me, I was ready to tell them to forget it as soon as Tacy burst into the house to get crayons and paper for signs.
I’m not the mom who opens up her house (and her refrigerator). I’m not the mom who organizes trips to the park and the movies. I’m not even the mom who volunteers at school – not even for the super-cool field trips. It’s just not me.
I come by my reticence to play hostess naturally. My mother wasn’t that mom either.
I had friends over to play. I had sleepovers and birthday parties. I even had a slumber party once. But our house was never a “hang-out”.
Likewise, Tacy has friends over to play. She’s had sleepovers and birthday parties here. In a few years, I’m sure we’ll start hosting slumber parties. But just like my own mother, I don’t want to turn my house into a “hang-out”.
Yes, I’ve heard many times that if you have all the kids over at your house, then you always know what’s going on. Sorry, but that’s not true. I’m not going to go into details, for fear of incriminating myself or others who read this blog and were party to my youthful indiscretions. Suffice it to say that kids are sneaky, even when they’re right under your nose.
It’s Kyle who’s the cool dad around here. Not only was he on hand to supervise the lemonade stand from start to finish, he took ten kids – TEN! – to the movies that Saturday. On BIKES! The man is clearly insane, at least from my point of view.
The weekend before that, we went to a birthday party. The hostess of the party called me to see Kyle standing in her backyard being whacked on the ass by a half-dozen kids. He was beaming even as he pulled them off.
He’s been this way since long before we had kids. In fact, it was his genuine enjoyment of kids that convinced me I could actually procreate with this guy.
I’m not really a mean mom. Not usually, anyway.
But I know my kids’ friends will never lament, “Geez, I wish MY mom were as cool as YOUR mom.”
July 6th, 2008 at 6:03 am
Oh too funny. I don’t like having people over so much, but the kids can have friends over as long as they stay in the yard. The second they try to come into the house, I send them home. Your hubby sounds awesome.
Steph
Adventures In Babywearings last blog post..I’m Breathing
July 6th, 2008 at 6:24 am
I agree…Kyle rocks! I don’t mind one kid at a time coming over (and mostly if they stay outside.) Ha…I am SO not looking forward to the days when my girls each have a buddy over or multiple buddies. Yikes. Also it depends entirely on their friend. We have one kid who acts like a monkey on crack in the house and she’s 7 1/2 so she should know better!
Jamies last blog post..Ultreo Ultrasound Toothbrush Giveaway
July 6th, 2008 at 11:05 am
I think I may want to be the hang our house, jsut because I don’t trust anyone else’s parents to watch my kids as much as I trust myself.
I may eat that statement in a few years though because my twins are only 5.
Tuesdays last blog post..The Mom Version of In
July 6th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Aw, but their friends will be saying, “Geez, I wish MY dad was as cool as YOUR dad.”
July 6th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Your husband sounds a lot like me. I LOVE having my kids friends over. We used to be the house that everyone hung out at all the time until a few weeks ago when a dad I had never met threatened to sue me. It’s a long story, totally ridiculous, and our lawyer says they have no case at all, in fact by them bringing this up they may now face neglect charges because of the situation. But my point is that I am now scared to have kids here when I don’t know their parents. I still let my friends have over kids who have parents I know, but otherwise, they can not even play on our property anymore. It’s a sad state when I have to turn away kids I like because I’m afraid their parents may sue me for feeding them snacks and letting them play in our yard!
I think you are a pretty cool mom though. Not everyone can have/wants the hang out house. There isn’t anything wrong with that at all.
toris last blog post..This Is Me
July 6th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
my mom was that mom. i, however, will *not* be that mom. no way. not that i don’t recognize the awesomeness of that kind of mom, but i’m just not her. just so not.
so. right there with ya babe.
Her Bad Mothers last blog post..Moms Without Pants
July 6th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
I’m that way too. Luckily, my son doesn’t do too much entertaining but my oldest liked to have friends over and now she stays at their houses. I’m so mean too.
Come enter my contest-lots of cool prizes!
Tesss last blog post..The Contest! The Contest!
July 6th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
10 kids to the movies on bikes? That is insane.
While I like to believe I’m the type of person who would love to be the house where the kids hang out, when I find myself with a household of kids, I really don’t enjoy it.
Chags last blog post..Holiday
July 6th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
Yes, my mom was like your mom and I plan on carrying on that tradition because I hate all hosting related shit and I don’t want to feed the neighbourhood. BUT I’m kinda stuck on this taking ten kids to the movies – on bikes – is he INSANE? Please tell me he started out with 12 because even then, returning with 10 is amazing.
motherbumpers last blog post..you know when you are…
July 6th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
I’m all about having the neighborhood kids over, it’s just in my makeup. But I also have that ass-whapped husband who causes the kids to come in and say “Can you make Mr. Mayhew get off the Wii? I want a turn too!”
It’s great to find a partner that meets the kids on their own special level. Here’s a cheer for the bike-riding dad and the mom that’ll inspire the saying “Wow, I wish my mom was all aloof like your mom.”
Anissa @ Hope4Peytons last blog post..Why I talk about my kid
July 7th, 2008 at 4:37 am
My house was never the hang out because my dad was an asshole alcoholic. I used to HATE that I couldn’t bring people over.
I’m not sure what “kind” of mom I’ll be, but I really hope my kids will feel comfy bringing people over to play.
Granted, they’ll be eating store bought chips and soda — so homemade hummus, sushi, and anything else that involves cooking skills.
But 10 kids to the movies? That’s just plain showing off right there.
(heh).
July 7th, 2008 at 10:17 am
I grew up in that house and now hostess myself.
There are a few rules – no shoes in the house, if you’re thirsty there’s plenty of cups and water, I determine if/when/what the snack is, and when I tell you to go home – go home.
Gretchens last blog post..Happy Birthday Baby Girl!
July 7th, 2008 at 11:10 am
Ten, as in almost a dozen? Oh yeah. He’s crazy all right.
I am, however, taking note of Gretchen’s rules for later.
mayberrys last blog post..Again with the waterparks
July 7th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Kyle is teh awesome.
Oh, and Declan has been making “lemonade stands” non-stop since you guys were here last.
Aimee Greeblemonkeys last blog post..A Call for the Silver Platters to Reunite!
July 7th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Ten kids on bikes? I am impressed. Next he’s probably going to lift a Greyhound Bus into the air with his pinky finger.
Ozs last blog post..Hairspurt
July 7th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Eh, you’ll find your coolness one day. It will be when you least expect it but you’ll end up letting them stay up ten minutes late at a slumber party or teach them how to sing some song with “Hell” in it by accident.
Mom101s last blog post..Three, on Three
July 8th, 2008 at 2:52 am
Ah, but they WILL say it about Kyle, and since he’s your other half, that makes you cool by association.
traceys last blog post..Bittersweet sighs…