My daughter had her first sleepover this weekend.
It was a long time coming. Her very best friend, a girl she has known since kindergarten, is near impossible to arrange any sorts of playdates with. Her mom works full time. Her dad, a retired police sergeant, is busy running the older son around to after school activities but has a rule that the daughter cannot have playdates without her mom or dad there.
Given this statute, let’s just say I didn’t even bother pursuing a sleepover with her. I’m sure we wouldn’t pass a background check.
Anyway, we have other options. We have family friends who have a lovely daughter a year older than mine, and they have known each other for years. They are a little less picky about where they leave their kid, apparently, even going so far as to trust ME of all people with her. Fortunately for me. My daughter was delighted.
I had all sorts of activities set up- movies, popcorn, fashion shows, crafts, I don’t know, all that giggly stuff little girls do. But this little girl doesn’t have a dog, so of course Brody was the center of attention. Not that he minded.
Aside went the crafts, the popcorn, and the Barbie movie, all in favor of giving Brody some much craved attention and love. He was eating it up. He was eating everything up, including this girl’s pillow pet, her burrito, and some kettle corn. They are getting a dog next month. I consider this a valuable learning experience for her about living with a canine. I hope she realizes the value of that, someday.
.
Anyway, I heard them upstairs giggling and laughing and Brody tromping around. Then a squeal, and down the girls come, flying down the stairs. They had been playing tug-of-war with Brody. He has lots of toys laying about for this purpose, but in the interest of some semblance of order, I guess someone had put them away. So he improvised.
It took the girls a few minutes before they realized they were playing tug-of-war with a pair of underpants he retrieved from a hamper. Oh, dear god. At least it wasn’t the cop’s kid who was over. I would probably be in jail.
So if they are reading this, I swear, we do have actual dog toys around here and I don’t force them to use soiled undergarments for lack of better options. Promise. Please let your daughter come over again. She was lovely.
So if the other little girl came to your house for a playdate, her mum or dad would have to come with her? While I can understand wanting to meet the parents of a prospective playdate, that rule seems a bit..um..excessive (sound of helicopter blades whirring overhead).
And tug-of-war with used underpants, ha! *Snort*
Bless you Brody.
Her mom or dad present always.
My breed are notorious thieves, and coupled with a wicked sense of humor, what they pull out for public viewing is directly related to the degree of discomfort potential. Children warrant dog toys, dish towels, a book. Strangers, an innocuous sock or shoe. With In-Laws, it’s the Full Monty: Underwear, bank statements, a boy’s jock strap. Good stuff.
Are these the rather prim relations?
Go Brody!!!
Enabler!
LOL!!! Go Brody!!! I can’t imagine playing with dolls or anything else either if Brody is around ;o)
Neither can he, apparently. 😉
Way too funny! Of course, I agree that if there is a dog present, who needs toys or movies or games or even snacks?! (Well, maybe snacks!) If someone would give Brody a little attention once in a while, he wouldn’t have to act out for guests. (LOL!!!!! I’m sure he never gets any, just like the Labs at the dog show! Such neglected breeds, Goldens and Labs!)
Oh yes, we are a black hole of neglect and despair here at Dr. Twist’s home for wayward pups. 😉
Our Abby-dog ALWAYS went for the underwear – even guest’s. We had to tell everyone to use the dresser! She would chew buttons off clothes of those she particularly liked, or would go into purses and take the lipstick. It’s a Golden thing and I miss her everyday.
So not only do you have to arrange for things to amuse the children, you must also entertain the parent. What a lonely child she must be.
They are lovely people, they really are. I like them a lot. I just don’t think they are into the whole “play with kids other than your siblings” thing, I guess…
Catching up, but this is hilarious! I’m thinking this was a GREAT learning experience for a little girl who will soon have a dog of her own! And the underwear, well that’s just because Brody couldn’t find anything handy that was even MORE embarrassing!!
As to the helicopter parents, most kids with that kind of parent usually go hog wild once they do get some freedom. I am assuming the father will NOT be living in her college dorm? (EEWWWWW! – when I read that back, it REALLY sounds creepy!) Anyway, what better playmate for Brody than two little girls. He probably LOVES the screaming!
We had the same problem. My son wanted a boy to come over after school and I called to invite him. His mother only wanted my son to go to her house where her maid could watch them (I a mother wasn’t to be trusted) or the boy could come as long as she came in the morning to check me out. She must have called me a hundred times that night to work out a solution.. I finally said forget about it but her son was crying and her own husband was saying she was nuts. I din’t want him at that point because I was so worried if something would have happened to him. It went fine and they played quite often. Months later she explained that she was a social worker and saw bad things day after day and it maid her really worried about the nuts out there.