My dad has always owned his own businesses. I used to love going with him. We would leave before the sun even thought about breaking the horizon. The coldest or warmest of days never stopped us from making our rounds from customer to customer until the truck was fully loaded (in the summer) or completely empty (in the winter).
These work days were the ONLY times I was ever allowed to drink a coke and I LOVE coke. Especially out of the glass bottle which is the only way one of his customers carried it.
On rare occasions I was left behind and my brother would go with. My dad came home FURIOUS after a long summer day with my brother in his wake. While on the road my dad had asked one of his long time customers if he could used the restroom. My dad’s customer told him no, “not after the way your son left it”.
Through gritted teeth and steam coming out of his ears (JUST like the cartoons) we pieced together what happened. Apparently my brother peed E.V.E.R.Y.W.H.E.R.E.
Years later I would understand this customer’s (and my dad’s) anger.
As adults my brother and I lived together and I swear he’d pull down his pants, put his hands on his hips and pretend he was hula-hooping while peeing ALL over the place.
Completely embarrassing parenting moment for my dad.
********
If you’re like me you’re terrified you kids will be anything other than perfect angels when you’re not around. I mean, isn’t that the ultimate test of your parenting skills? Sure… we’re supposed to prepare our offspring for adulthood, BUT unless we use friend’s birthday sleepovers as our performance evaluations along the way, how do you really know how you’re doing?
You’re little clone knows just how you tick and how to manipulate you, but when removed from their power and placed in someone else’s hands THAT is a true test.
It wasn’t long ago my men were at a sleepover. The next time they were invited to that house the mom stopped us at the door. She confronted my boys about slamming doors, not listening and screaming all night. She (with every right) told them that they wouldn’t be invited back if it continued to happen.
I
Was
MORTIFIED!
MY angels were DEMONS?!
My eyes bulged out of their sockets! My jaw clenched snapping turtle style and the steam was on the brink of coming out of my ears. I was ready to pull them by the hair, throw them back in my Jeep and FORBID them from playing until they could behave properly when the dad said, ”it wasn’t your kids that were the problem, we should place blame where it belongs”.
The mom explained that she was being fair by talking to all the kids. The mom didn’t say some of the kids, she made me believe it was mine and mine ALMOST got grounded for MONTHS!
That was a year ago.
My men have been invited numerous places and I feel confident that while they might not be perfect or on their best behavior 100% of the time they MUST be polite enough to be re-invited.
But this week, we have another test. The big one was asked to go to a birthday party week in Wisconsin Dells. We’re talking road trips, hotel stays, water parks, attractions the ENTIRE 9 yards. I love arcades as much as the big one loves clothes – he doesn’t. His safety net is here and he’s not even with his core friend group, but he wanted to go. He was excited to go!
I helped him pack his bag.
I quizzed him on his manner usage.
I took a deep breath and watched him leave; now all that’s left is his return and MY performance review.
