Girls Night Out. Kind of.

Now that the kids are getting older, weekends (and in particular Friday nights) have become a logistical game of who is coming and going and how and when and where and why. Teenagers never make plans until the last minute so my drive home on Friday is a barrage of phone calls attempting to get everyone where they want to be. Monte and I wait to see how it all shakes out and then we decide what we are going to do with whatever children end up at our house. Or we throw a pizza at them and go out alone.

Last night was no exception. Zech was away visiting Michigan State and seeing the Lion King with his class and would not be home until midnight or so. Check. Jake invited his friend over after school and to maybe spend the night. Could I please bring them home some pop and snacks and maybe pizza? Check. Eli had a birthday party that was a sleepover right here in the neighborhood and had the gift that I picked up a gift on my lunch hour with me. After many discussions about the gift, what he was allowed to bring, what he needed to pack, what time we were going, he was settled. Check. Then Monte called and said he had to work late.

So, I called back to the house and asked my daughter if she would like to have dinner with her favorite mom. Her answer? "Well, maybe because my friend invited me for a sleepover, I am waiting for her to call back." Wow. I've been dissed by my eight year old who doesn't generally want me out of her sight!

As it turns out, I got home, wrapped the gift, took Eli to his party, picked up pizza and pop and brought it home for the teenagers in my basement. Baila had not heard from her friend by then so we went out and enjoyed a lovely dinner. She is SO funny to spend one on one time with. I love the things she talks about and we have a blast together. It's those moments that fill my heart because while I am so happy for my kids that they have friends and full lives, I realize they are moving away from me very quickly and nothing I do will change that. I just try to capture those rare moments when I have their undivided attention and hold them in my heart.

After a lovely dinner discussing a number of interesting GIRLS ONLY things, we came home to discover her friend did call and so off we went again to drop her off for a sleepover, I stopped at the store to pick up some ice cream for Monte and I, came home and promptly passed out on the couch. My wonderful husband took a photo of me and posted it on Facebook. Nice. Exhibit A: Exhausted mom on the run crashes as soon as she sits down.

After all of that, I woke up and realized I had to wait for Z to call me to come get him when they returned to the school so I figured I could do a little cleaning while I waited. I realized that it was 12:15 on a Friday night and I was cleaning the kitchen floor on my hands and knees. I really know how to PARTY! Wow, am I getting OLD.

Today I have decided to hop in the Subaru (I love driving that car) and head to Toledo to do some shower planning with my mom and her sister in law. I'm going alone so I can listen to my bad, boring, stupid and outdated music as loud as I want with no one to comment and am looking forward to a nice day with people who understand that a Girls Night Out means something very different than it once did! Right after I vacuum with my new Dyson....:)