Sunday, November 7, 2021

The "Fun Mom" Weekend

While I spend lots of time with the kids, and drive them/their friends around often, it's unusual for us to have a day where we 1) eat out and 2) treat others to meals out, because of #1. Yesterday was such a randomly fun day. I'll have to remember this. 

We started off by taking the boys to an early morning soccer game. M took Nick, & I took Sam. Nick's game was very close, but ended in a 1-2 loss. Sam's game was a tie. There was almost a fight on the sidelines between parents. I truly don't understand people. This was what I would describe your typical, run of the mill, Saturday morning soccer game. Your normal amount of fouls, your normal amount of missed calls, just a regular game. 

After the game, I decided to invite one of Sam & Nick's shared friend to go to Starbucks with us. This friend had a rough day on Friday & was feeling pretty bummed, so I thought he could use the time out with friends. I was already taking another bonus kid home (helping out their parents). The boys were all teasing each other, talking about school & soccer tryouts. By the end of our stop, everyone was laughing. I used Starbucks rewards, so it was even a frugal stop, although not the intention. 

We all had lunch, and then I sent M away (unexpectedly) for some surprise friend time. He was so, so very excited. I feel lucky that we are at a point in our lives that extra kid time is fun, vs a lot of juggling and effort. Weekends when the kids were babies were really challenging. It sounds like M is having a fabulous time, so I'm really glad it worked out.

We headed to another soccer game for Sam in the late afternoon. Sam & a buddy made a huge play in the final 30 seconds of the game, and tied it up right before the whistle. It was a very enjoyable game to watch. It was, however, freezing outside! I had tossed my emergency car blanket into the trunk, and Nick, ignoring my suggestion that he wear pants, was grateful for it. ;-) The game didn't end until 7 pm, so we hustled to a restaurant that a friend recommended. I was helping out a different friend, & also had her son, who used to be Sam's BFF, but they've grown apart since elementary school & have rarely spent time together.

The dinner out was one of the most enjoyable I've had in SO long. It was a combination of things. Very happy & animated teenagers. No one even interested in checking their phones. So much laughing. Great food, lots of storytelling, & giggling boys. You have to just embrace these moments, because they are so very rare. The food was delicious, & teenage boys can truly consume *all* of the food. What a wonderful way to close out the evening.

As for today, I'll be taking Nick to another game, and tennis lessons, & then making tacos. Other things on the list:

  • Laundry
  • Wash sheets
  • Make beds
  • Plan the menu for the week
  • Prep for the week ahead
  • Have the boys work on homework/soccer ref scheduling/drivers tests
Hope everyone has a fabulous day!

12 comments:

  1. I love this post! I can feel hw much you love your time with your boys, and their friends. We all need to be helping each other out-whether picking up an extra kid and Starbucks, or dinner, or just being the mom there when any kid needs a little extra. You're good people!

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    1. It was such a fun evening. I felt really lucky that it all played out, with M out of town, I felt no rush to get home, which led to the dinner & M having a wonderful time with a friend who is in recovery from cancer. It was such a serendipitous & lovely sequence of events.

      Yes, it's so true about helping others. I've been the recipient so, so many times when M & I have had scheduling conflicts, so it reminds me how critical it is to step in & lend a hand.

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  2. This did sound like a fun Saturday. I do not understand parents fighting!

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    1. The one parent was not trying to fight. He should have walked away, but he definitely was not talking or instigating. The other parent was really foolish

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  3. I remember those days and they were wonderful. It is great to have genuine laughter and to be able to listen in a little is just a bonus!

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    1. It truly is a gift. The teenage years often feel lonely as a parent. You are a driver & very "busy", but less sharing & visibility.

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  4. I am afraid I'm never the "Fun Mom," and I find that a great deal of teenagers are self-centered, back-biting, mean spirited monsters, and their parents are just as bad, if not worse. I do enjoy *my* kids for the most part, AND I'm fortunate in that my neighbor's boys are good friends with mine, particularly my youngest, and I actually enjoy spending time with their mother as well as her boys. We have an annual event that we participate in every February, and it's always a laugh. Daughter also has a few, sweet, kind friends who I've carted to and fro over the years, and it's always been a good time.

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    1. I doubt you're never the fun mom-it just may be different. You had "girl" stay with you and made her feel welcome, not a burden. You've included your neighbor's younger child in activities. No one should have to be the one all the time to step up, but you seem to when it matters Meg.

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    2. To Sam's point, caring about people & helping them out trumps fun every time. Sounds like they have a tight group, which is awesome.

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  5. I love this (minus the parents - what is UP with mean sports/activities parents? I never understood them as a kid and still can't)!

    I keep hoping with all I have that my two will grow up with generally positive and safe experiences like yours are having and that we mostly had.

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    1. It's so disappointing. I've seen hundreds & hundreds of games (thousands? I'm too afraid to do the math) & the vast majority of the time you get the normal shouting about a call, or general stuff, but occasionally there are some real idiots.

      I love when the boys have a glimpse of normalcy. Team sports are not for everyone, but I do love the forced time with peers, the fitness, the no device time, the shared goals, learning about winning/losing & everything in between. It's been great for our kids, but when they were younger, was primarily a vehicle for my ADHD kid (undiagnosed) to get all of his energy out. :-)

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  6. It's so true, the rare & enjoyable moments need to be celebrated!

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