aI took the kids to a party on independence day. For those who don't know, independence in Barbados is November 30th. They had quite a bit of things going on this day but I admit it is usually my choice to stay home. Its not that I don't like going out but the honest truth is, sometimes when I think about carting my boys along, its enough to make me just want to curl up in bed.
People who have kids, they never tell you the honest truth about what a chore it can be sometimes. If you're leaving the house and your destination isn't school or work, its probably to some kiddie-themed something and they never tell you that you get to be completely bored while your child has the time of his life. Now, if you've thought ahead, chances are you travel with a book to read or do crosswords or you find out which kids are going in the hopes that you know at least a couple of parents so you can have an adult conversation. Me, I really haven't got any friends these days and making friends has always been somewhat challenging for me, so I fit into the latter part of that equation most times. It finally paid off. I had the brief pleasure of conversation with another parent. So starved am I for adult conversation outside of my family that I prattled on senselessly about all that I had seen and all about the children. Can you tell that I have absolutely nothing major going on in my life right now? Anyway, there I am all engrossed in conversation when Jaheim zooms past me in a blur of colour, so picture me mid-sentence, taking off behind him like some crazed person. I can't even remember apologising but the plus side to interacting with other parents is that no one bats an eyelash when you do something that would otherwise be considered weird. Now, I forgot to mention that there were two parties going on at the facility and so when Jaheim decided to take flight, it was so that he could crash the other people's party for the sole purpose of going into their jumping tent. The jumping tent was completely empty of all the children who were eating and Jaheim was in there jumping around like there was nothing more fulfilling. I tell you, I almost climbed inside beside him and jumped up too, but no, he was party crashing. So like any good, dutiful super hero mom, I stood with my arms folded and my face stern and demanded that he come out right away. He did - laughing and giggling like he had made a big joke and I hadn't gotten the punch line. Me, I have the little monster bundled in my arms like a bolt of fabric and I'm breathing heavily as I take him back to the actual party he's at. Meanwhile, Shakir is in a line waiting to get his face painted and totally and completely oblivious that anything has happened. A little later it was time to eat, so this landed me back in the centre of the storm, minding Shakir, Jaheim and one of Shakir's little friends. All of a sudden, the little boy looks at me as only a child could and asks if I could please allow Shakir to go to After Care. "Pardon?" I asked feeling like I had missed something. I actually told myself I had heard wrong - maybe he had said Art Splash centre or karate or tennis. But no. After Care. At school on evenings. Then, they began to list the merits of going to After Care. Apparently, you get extended play time and sometimes you watch movies and it is absolutely the most brilliant thing. At this point, I cast my eyes to where Jaheim was quietly eating and said a prayer of thanks to God that he, at least, was too concerned with filling his gut to tell me what great thing I should be doing for him as well. Calmly, I explained to the boys that my current arrangement is rather convenient and will remain in place until such time that I should feel necessary to change it. I was informed that there is simply not enough time designated between 9 and 3 to allow for them to play. Huh! Well the day continued on with Jaheim finding a railing to swing on and later as I sat in their father's car regaling him with my adventures, Jaheim said the most brilliant thing. He said they needed to have jumping tents at the supermarkets for the kids. Right away, my husband and I began to consider the business potential of such an idea and we eventually shrugged our shoulders to think it had come straight out of the mouth of a babe.
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About AllisonAllison is mother to two active boys who challenge her on a day to day basis with their escapades. In her other life, Allison juggles a regular day job as a marketing executive in a health food organization. At night, when everyone is asleep, she dreams of being a fulltime writer and super hero. Archives
October 2016
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