When you’re about to cook dinner and your kids ask to go out and you’re not sure whether to insist on eating in or going with your natural instinct to avoid washing dishes at all costs.
After all, you’ve already mastered the technique of eating with one hand since you’ll definitely need that other arm to stop your children from flicking food, straw wrappers, and whatever else they can find at each other.
But, on the other hand, you know two of your kids are going to have that who-can-blow-the-most-bubbles-into-their-drink contest they are so fond of.
And, of course, at that exact moment that other mom is going to walk by your table. You know the one. The one who always has everything together. The one who never has dried flecks of mascara under her eyes and who actually takes the time to fill in her eyebrows. You know, the one with kids who don’t blow bubbles into their drinks.
You’ll greet each other nicely enough, but her eyes will ask how you could ever allow your kids to run so wild. Your eyes will ask how anyone could get their eyebrows to look like that.
Once she leaves, your eldest will once again insist she is too old for the kids’ menu. Meanwhile, here you’ll be, wishing you actually could order that macaroni-and-cheese from the kids menu.
You’ll want to tell your child ‘no’ at first, but she’ll be very convincing that she’s ready, Mom. She can definitely finish her plate this time.
But she won’t.
And then you’ll turn over to your toddler and realize he’s eating his crayon. You’ll take it away from him, but then he’ll burst into tears, and everyone will shake their heads at you while staring at his blue teeth.
But even though you know what’s coming, as you look at your kids making big eyes after they’ve asked you to go out for dinner, you know their happiness will be worth it— bubbles, adult plates, crayons, and all.
Then again, pizza is always an option.
