I babysat for some neighbors last night – a young couple with five children. (Yes, five.) It was my understanding that the kids would be asleep by the time I arrived. I was a little surprised to find four of them, lined up on the couch with their very sleepy father. I wondered if I’d gotten wires crossed. Neither parent looked ready to go out. The mother looked very worn and was icing her plantar fasciitis, which acts up when she goes running.
The couple sprang to life make it to a party. Well, not exactly sprang – more eased themselves up, yawning towards the door. The VCR was playing Mary Poppins, an all-time favorite of mine, and the kids all had blankets or other comfort items with them. This was going to be an early evening.
I nodded off about 3 minutes after the parents left, in the same rocking chair where the running mother of five had just been icing her feet. A short time later (I was just resting my eyes) the movie came to an end and the children announced that because it was Friday night, they would be having a “sleepover” upstairs. I knew this was their Friday tradition. I also think it’s a ploy for the parents to get a few extra minutes of sleep on Saturday morning. So up we trudged to the large bedroom with assorted bunk and trundle beds where they all dutifully went to their previously agreed upon spots.
I had forgotten my reading glasses but somehow managed to stumble through a story. I’m pretty sure they didn’t notice when my blurry eyes got some of the words and names of major characters wrong. All were tucked away within five minutes and I went downstairs to the sofa to “watch T.V.” , safe in the knowledge that the exhausted parents would be home momentarily and that I would soon be tucking myself in at home.
I was awoken a few hours later by an energized couple, who clearly found a refreshing second wind of being in adults-only company. They looked brighter, more cheerful, and I hoped they wouldn’t have trouble falling asleep. I bet five kids have no concept of sleeping in on a Saturday morning.
The couple sprang to life make it to a party. Well, not exactly sprang – more eased themselves up, yawning towards the door. The VCR was playing Mary Poppins, an all-time favorite of mine, and the kids all had blankets or other comfort items with them. This was going to be an early evening.
I nodded off about 3 minutes after the parents left, in the same rocking chair where the running mother of five had just been icing her feet. A short time later (I was just resting my eyes) the movie came to an end and the children announced that because it was Friday night, they would be having a “sleepover” upstairs. I knew this was their Friday tradition. I also think it’s a ploy for the parents to get a few extra minutes of sleep on Saturday morning. So up we trudged to the large bedroom with assorted bunk and trundle beds where they all dutifully went to their previously agreed upon spots.
I had forgotten my reading glasses but somehow managed to stumble through a story. I’m pretty sure they didn’t notice when my blurry eyes got some of the words and names of major characters wrong. All were tucked away within five minutes and I went downstairs to the sofa to “watch T.V.” , safe in the knowledge that the exhausted parents would be home momentarily and that I would soon be tucking myself in at home.
I was awoken a few hours later by an energized couple, who clearly found a refreshing second wind of being in adults-only company. They looked brighter, more cheerful, and I hoped they wouldn’t have trouble falling asleep. I bet five kids have no concept of sleeping in on a Saturday morning.