There is a neighbor boy who comes over to see the kids. He comes over a lot. And I have this thing, this problem, this hermit-like personality that prevents me from wanting even *my* friends to stop by without calling. And this kid? Hes close to the last kid I would pick out as a friend for my babies. Ive hollered at him for being disrespectful, and Ive told him he cant play here without obeying my rules! Still, he keeps coming by. On Sunday he wanted snacks. We dont have snacks, I said. We have dinner. And dinner isnt ready, yet. I shut the fridge door and pried the milk jug out of my sons hands (he was trying to be a good host--but we didnt have any milk to spare). I was in a bad mood because Sunday is my day to write. I had to go from listening to every five or so words from my kids (all the while finally being productive) to listening to every. single. solitary. word. Cause if youre in my house, Im watching you. Mom, you never like it when he comes over, one of my older girls convicted in a whisper. I hung my head in shame, and I shuffled my house shoes into the kitchen. I popped a large kettle of popcorn, and I dished each child their own bowl. Snack time, I smiled as I handed him his share. And I knew hed never leave if I fed him, so I sighed a little as I walked back to my chair. Today, sure enough, he came back...just as I was making dinner. I was cooking a nice dinner and setting a pretty table as our reward for spelling test day. Everyone had a wine glass; the bottles of pomegranate kombucha were chilling. The spaghetti sauce was simmering, and the salad was ready. Now, to get rid of this kid. Mom, can our friend stay for dinner? I panicked. There was barely enough food for the six of us. I paced around the kitchen in a bout with stinginess and fear. Would your mom mind if you...? He leaped for the phone before I could even finish the question. I went to set another place at the table. We prayed together and we toasted our guest; we laughed over spaghetti faces, and the kids quizzed each other with math games. Well, I said, thank you for being our guest tonight. Do you have lots of homework to do? No, I dont have any, he said. Oh really? Yeah, they didnt give me any. I got expelled today. I could go on and on about what went through my mind, but youre probably thinking the same things. Needless to say, at the end of the day, Im glad I loved on that kid. And Im sorry my bubbles so small.
Posted on: Wed, 05 Nov 2014 02:08:25 +0000
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