During her four-year-old’s preschool year, however, I was somehow wrangled into a playdate with a little girl we’ll call “Claire.” It all started innocently enough—Claire’s Mom invited Lauren over for a playdate. Lauren was so excited I just couldn’t say no, so I agreed. I take her halfway across town, check out Claire’s house, chat with Mommy for a few minutes—all looks good. I’ll be back in two hours. Two hours later, playdate over, I retrieve my child only to realize that I am now obligated to “return the favor” and have Claire over to play now. Why didn’t Mommy just call it what it was—a Babysitting Co-op?
We fulfill our obligation and have Claire over to play. Claire only wants to run around the house at full volume and full speed screaming like a banshee. Nothing we have for a snack is acceptable to her and I can hardly wait for her Mommy to come and retrieve her! Now Claire’s Mommy has a very important job and all of a sudden, I’m getting phone calls asking if Claire can come over after school or on one of our weekdays off from school because Claire’s Mommy has some really important stuff to do at work and daycare can’t take her. At first, I oblige, not thinking much of it, but it begins to come to the point that when I see her name on my caller ID, I simply don’t answer the phone. This was our very last attempt at playdates because, sooner or later, I will be called upon to babysit again because I am a stay-at-home Mom and have nothing better to do ... (Yeah, right!) I have things to do, too—none less important than what people like Claire’s Mommy had to do.
Yes, when did everything have to become so complicated? Why can’t Moms just say “go out and play” without filling up with gas, driving on the interstate, and checking their Blackberries? Why can’t kids just play?
By Liz of Pink Lemonade
