One down, one to go

Greta's birthday is coming up, and we're having two birthday parties for her this year - one for her day-care friends and one for family and family friends. Today was the day-care friends' party. We decided to have two parties because A) our house is small and B) because sometimes you shouldn't mix friends.

To cite an example of the latter, earlier this year, at one of the birthday parties Greta attended, where there were both day-care friends and friend-friends of the birthday boy, one of the friend-friend's moms made multiple disparaging remarks about one of the day-care friends to that day-care friend's mom. Wait, what? That's right. One mom, who didn't realize she was talking to the kid in question's mom, said awful things about a kid TO THE KID'S MOM, not realizing her error. I'm paraphrasing, but she made such comments as, "Wow, have they had that girl checked out?" And then when the mom of the kid politely said that the girl simply a bit strong willed and that that trait would be a positive one when she is an adult, the friend-friend's mom dug herself further in the hole by saying, "[Is there] trouble at home?" (Oh, and I should also report that the friend-friend was no little angel. Just sayin'.) I am probably explaining the exchange horribly, but basically this mom who had no idea how insulting she was being was...totally insulting. I give the day-care friend's mom a million gold stars, because she kept her cool with the friend-friend's mom and actually laughed it off. If it were me in that position, I probably would have scratched some eyes out or, at the very least, unleash a verbal fury that would make her cry. Not that I think one of MY lovely friends would pull a stunt like that, but one never knows. Day-care friends and friend-friends are just that - and never the twain shall meet, at least not without cheat sheets of who is related to whom. End verbal diatribe.

Oh! Back to Greta's birthday party. I was sort of extremely nervous to have six preschoolers in my house. I have just never had that many kids in my house, and, um, kids scare me (except for my own). But it was great!

I love this picture. Here are all the girls in Greta's bedroom, squished into her chair.

I also wanted to say that I think it's awesome how involved the day-care dads (and moms) are. I think it's rare for dads to be so involved at day care, in general, and it was really great to see them engaged with the kids. At one point, one dad had all of the kids intently (and quietly!) following along with a book, and at another point, a different dad had all of the kids shrieking with delight as he "scared" them. It was super cute.

Now the house is clean and quiet and back to order. Ahhh. Just one more to go and I can go back to being antisocial for a year.

Fran