Or, let their handlers do anything alone?
Me and my pal, who I never see since breeding, had a walk at 8AM on a Sunday morn, because it was the only time she could get free (from her kids' schedules). Now, we tried to do it again this Sunday. Believe me, I would like to sleep later on a Sunday, or at least lounge around in my PJs a little later, and I bet my pal would like to also. But it is ri-damn-diculous that we can never see each other especially since we only live a mile apart. So this is our only option for friend time. Would you believe her 8-9 yr old son now wants to tag a long? And, he did.
He is a good kid, as my pal is a PNB, but still, can I ever see her w/o one of them? Even first thing in the AM?
What is wrong with these kids? I mean, the parents drive them everywhere as it is, so they are with them all the time. As when we were kids, we didn't have a million activities, over the top b-day parties, playdates, Gymboree, etc., and for the things we did, we usually got there ourselves. But no, now parunts are with their brats 24/7 because they have to be in a million activities and they must be driven because the world is soooo unsafe!!!!!
The parents have to be at home and do their homework with them! Even 11-12 year olds can't baby sit for an hour or two, like we did, because no parunt trust them. Every adult restaurant and bar is full of brats b/c parunts are never w/o their brood. Now weekends also have to be formal 'family time' and we must have family activities!
You get the idea.
So, you're a 9 year old boy, who already has plenty of family time, and you want to get up at 7AM on a Sunday and get dressed, when you don't have to go to one of your million activities, to go walking with two "old ladies"????
In my day, kids didn't want to hang with their parents and their friends, let alone at 7-8Am when they could be sleeping. In fact, most of us dreaded it and resented anytime that was taken away from our 'play time' with our friends. Parents had to force us to go with them. But no, I can't even have an hour at 8 am with my pal, because her kid asked to go, she said yes. (I guess checking with me didn't even occur to her, but what would I have said, without hurting her feelings?) I know she loves her kid, but doesn't *she* ever want any adult time? especially with someone she doesn't get to hang with? I mean the walk is meant for US to stay in touch more and catch up.
Well, anyway, he came. He was pretty good. I did suggest that we walk around the park 3 times, instead of endlessly meandering thru the 'hood, b/c it was what we used to do before he was born, but also, because I thought it would be even more boring for him.
Also, it made it a "finite" walk, so I could skedaddle out of there since I wanted to walk with my friend, not a kid, and since that wasn't happening, I was going back to bed.
I think it might have worked.
I did think it took nerve of him to invite himself along for the walk, then complain how boring it was b/c we just 'walked around' 3 times, then "talked". Well, kiddo, that is what 40+ women do at 8AM who haven't seen each other, and that is why a kid should NOT be there. My pal didn't say anything to him (parunts are way too nicey nice now). If my kid invited himself somewhere and then complained, I would have said, hey, this was mommy's thing, this is what we do, and you asked to come, so don't come with or complain if you don't like it. :yeah He even complained when the walk was over and they had to get to the other side of the park to get to their car (why she brought the car, I have no idea). She again said nothing to him, I finally said, well, we can stop walking if mommy can twitch her nose and magically get the car on this side of the park, but since she can't we have to walk to it. (not rudely, but I said it, I think this should have been obvious to someone his age and he's gifted also.) Then, me and my pal talked about 3 more minutes and he complained about "talking". I mean what did he expect, to be entertained with clowns and a trapeze artist at an 8AM walk?
*I'M* the one who should be bored because me and pal couldn't talk about adult subjects and really catch up with what is going on in our worlds b/c the kid was there. All subjects had to be rated G and maybe PG but under our breath. We actually just talked about what he wanted to talk about. He actually interrupted us a couple of times too, and of course moomie let's him change the subject. And, I guess b/c we got coffee last time at the donut shop, he was disappointed we didn't do so this time. I mean really now, he didn 't get up at this time and walk w/ 'old' ladies just to get a donut, did he?
Kids eat cereal and pancakes and cookies all the time for breakfast now, a donut can't be that special to him. (and believe me, no matter how many sports he's in, he doesn't need a donut with his girth)
I cant get over the fact we actually picked 8am, because it was the only time she didn't have kid commitments and the kids would be asleep (I guess you can't have a minute to yourself when your kyds are awake even tho your hubby, aunt, mom could look after them for an hour as they live there anyway and they aren't babies for god sake), and we (especially *I*) can't get away from them for a minute even under these circumstances. I could see if she *had* to bring him w/o a sitter and all, but there is really no reason for him to be there during our adult time. Shit, I don't come to his activities and squeeze in on their family time, do I?
Why oh why do today's brats want to hang with adults when we kids of long ago didn't want to? :bawl They can't be that lonely.
If I dare to go again next Sunday, we'll see if he wants come after this week's boring walk and talk.
If he opts out, there was success on my part, but if not, it will be my final walk even tho we said we would do it every week.
Sorry, I didn't realize how long this got.