Three Year Olds and Mondays Always Get Me Down!

So, my friend Lisa and I used to have weekly playdates with our two darlings. It was a designated thing - every Tuesday, come "you know what" and high water. And then along came September and...

We (me and mine) signed up for gymnastics.

In defense, my sweet youngun turned three and was suddenly eligible for the beginner class and Lisa's little sweetie is four months younger. So we signed up for gymnastics class - which met the same time as our weekly playdate. It seemed every week Lisa and I vowed to set another permanent date for play and every week, something came up. It was fall, it was cold weather, there was sickness in the air, both at our house and theirs. It just never seemed to pan out. Consequently, the two girls have rarely played together since on or about August. There have been some playdates, mostly spontaneous, there was the Wiggle concert and some cookie decorating in December, and we did get together for our annual Christmas Festivus Extravaganza.

But this being the new year and all, we decided to re institute the weekly playdate and yes, my dear Internets, this was the day.

Picture it, a beautiful Monday, two sweet faced, freshly scrubbed, dressed to the nines, cuteness defining three year olds, laughing and playing and enjoying their time together in a playroom filled with tons of toys. Picture it - because that ain't what happened. Oh, the sweet-faced, freshly scrubbed and nicely dressed part is true, but the laughing, playing, content with the toys and each other - forgetaboutit!

I think we had been there about five minutes when my dearie decided she was unhappy with the proceedings in the playroom and stormed out to sit on the couch in the living room. This triggered cries from the other dear one left suddenly alone in the playroom. I convinced mine to go back in (in a sweet, motherly voice -- hahhaha!) and then minutes later Lisa's dearie was upset by something and the scenario replayed itself, over and over and over. It was exhausting. Finally, Lisa and I decided to just remove them from the scene and hoofed it over to the nearest Burger King for a food break.

We love Burger King - not only can you get it your way.. you can get it your way and sit in the playground to eat it. Children can play, adults can eat and talk and everyone is happy!

I wish I could say all went well after that... but if you have ever met either of these two sweethearts, you know that can not be so.

There was crying and gnashing of teeth - and that was just me and Lisa. I think the girls ate a little, I think they eventually had fun on the slide, but before that, we had a breakdown over water on the playground, a lost toy (funny how if you throw toys they can sometimes disappear into the playset and get lost forever!), arguments over who got to climb first, fight over who can slay imaginary monster first, crying with great dramatic flair over a fall and a small boo-boo (it was a pretty bad fall, but the screams didn't quite align with the injury :-) and then by some miracle the girls started playing well together - gee only three hours to accomplish this task and it was time to go.

I am not really sure the girls had fun. Maybe in the three year old mind it was fun. I know that mommies were having fun - we just enjoyed the sunshine and tried to block out the toddler trauma drama. I am not sure we are ready for a weekly playdate, maybe we should continue it and hope it gets better, or maybe we should get babysitters and make it a mommy lunch every week, sans the kiddos!

Through all the drama, it was nice to just sit and chat with my friend again, to commiserate on the "joys" of motherhood and to reassure ourselves that we are not alone and that somehow, someway, we will survive it all...or maybe we will just share a room at the asylum together. Either way, we won't be alone! ;-)

Happy, Happy!
Beverly

I must add that since I have completed this entry - I have received a phone call from my friend Lisa and the "crying with great dramatic flair over a fall and a small boo boo" was actually a bit understated. Apparently upon waking from her nap, her youngun now is sporting a bad bruise and a potential black eye. Oh well, guess the drama did align with the injury -- oops! Here's hoping "Coffee Pot's" eye is better soon and here is a prayer of thanksgiving that my youngun was not around when the fall took place! Whew !