As any parent of a child at playdate age is acutely aware, not every one of your child’s friends will be to your liking. At some point during these social gatherings, other people’s kids can become overly bossy, excessively inquisitive, or simply too loud. In my experience, most children show little interest in adult supervision unless it involves ice pops or water balloons. This arrangement is manageable as long as you check in regularly to ensure they’re not attempting to bathe your pet or set the house ablaze.
I was just getting accustomed to this summer routine when my son’s friend, Max, came over. I had specifically informed my son that this playdate would last only two hours, as we needed to leave for my daughter’s soccer game.
With just 15 minutes left, Max approached me and asked, “Can I come with you to soccer?”
I replied, “Not today, buddy. Our car is full because we’re bringing one of my daughter’s friends.” However, my daughter, being the catalyst for unnecessary chaos, pointed out that there was indeed one seat available. After some pleading, I reluctantly reconsidered, thinking that perhaps building good karma with this relatively mild-mannered friend was worth it.
As we all piled into the car, what followed felt akin to a chaotic episode of Jeopardy. One moment, Max was a well-mannered 9-year-old settling into the backseat; the next, he unleashed a barrage of questions at a rapid-fire pace.
“Are we there yet? Why are we driving so slowly? Why aren’t we there yet? Which town is this? It looks like rain. Will they still play if it rains? Why is there so much traffic?”
I glanced at my husband, who seemed to retreat into his neck like a turtle. I cranked up the music, hoping to drown out the incessant chatter.
After dropping off the girls for their pregame warm-up, Max inquired, “Why are we driving away?”
I took a moment to compose myself and answered, “The girls need to be early. We’ll be eating before the game.” No sooner had I spoken than a new round of questions erupted.
“Where are we eating? Can we go to Pizza Ranch? Why aren’t we going to Pizza Ranch? I wanted to go there. Is the place we’re going fancy? What’s this place? I’ve never been here. Can I order now? I know what I want. If I order wings, how many will I get? Do you think the blue cheese is on the side? How long until the food arrives? I usually eat at 5:30. This is late for me. Are we going to miss the soccer game? When do you think the food will get here? Can I sleep over tonight?”
After my third drink, I noticed my husband discreetly slide beneath the table, assuming the fetal position. I stared into my empty glass in disbelief.
On the drive home after the game, it occurred to me that there might be families out there who have hosted my son and felt similarly overwhelmed. I extend my sincerest apologies to those parents for any distress we may have caused, as well as any resulting hangovers.
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Summary:
Navigating playdates can be a challenging experience for parents, especially when faced with an overwhelming number of questions from their child’s friends. While it’s important to foster social interactions, maintaining a sense of sanity is equally crucial. This humorous reflection highlights the trials of summer playdates and offers a lighthearted apology to other parents for any chaos caused.
Keyphrase: Challenges of Playdates
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