Party Planner Extraordinare

I had a party yesterday. Not for any of my children or my husband. I had a party for myself. It was my birthday gift actually. I asked to have a party with all my friends without any husbands or children. A relaxing afternoon by the pool, some nice food, some nice friends and I think a good time was had by all. It is not often as a mother you get to spend time with friends without having constant interruptions by the kids or other responsibilities. I don't want to sound rude, I love my children very much I have dedicated my life to loving and caring for them. However, I do feel as a woman it is important that we nurture ourselves and each other also. The kids also need to see as they get older friendships may change and evolve but in the end a true friend is always there for you. So this party of mine may become an annual event, as one friend thinks it should be, or perhaps a semiannual event.
Who knows perhaps I may become a party planner for other people. I have to grow up and become a career woman eventually. So for all of you that like a party but hate the planning. Let me know. And for all of you skeptics out there who say life is about hard work and having a job you hate. I say, you've never been to a party like mine before, because these parties take a lot of planning and hard work but the key is to make sure everyone has a good time and if you can make it look effortless. Who says life can't be a party?

My Left Arm Returned Now Where Did My Right Arm Go?

Have you ever read the book "Walk Two Moons?" It is a lovely book that I read with my 4th grader this last school year. In the book the mother called her daughter her left arm. She would say something to the effect of "Salamanca Hiddle my left arm." So since we have read this book my 4th grader is my left arm and my 6th grader is my right arm. I suppose I should call them 5th and 7th graders now that is just really hard to admit to. I suppose my kindergartener is my hands or my legs I have no idea. So on with the story. My 5th grader and my 7th grader have both gone to a camp nearby this summer for one week each at different times. My 5th grader went first and had a great time I only received one phone call stating that she was mildly injured and perhaps I could get her to rub a little dirt on it and get back out there as my husband would say. Which is precisely what I told her to do. She was fine and had a great time. When I dropped her off and got out to the car I cried. When we picked her up her sister and I both cried I felt as though my left arm had been missing for a week. My Right Arm gets picked up today. This was her first time going to camp also. A lot harder for her to go than it was for the other one mostly because we made her go. She didn't want to go and when we got there she didn't know anyone there. I received 2 phone called begging me to come get her I refused. After the second phone call I never heard another word from her just a call from a friend working at the camp saying she was having a great time and not to worry she is fine. That was the toughest refusal I have made. I knew once she gave it a chance she would have a great time, however hearing your child cry and not being able to hold her and comfort her was very difficult. It had to be done. I can't wait till my Right Arm comes home today I will hold her and I will cry and she will cry, her sister will probably laugh at us both.

Dancing Queen or Lets See If Those Chicken Wings Can Fly?

Oh the wonderful world of dance. I love dance I really do I love to watch dance I love to dance my self, although I believe I lost all the moves I once had in the postnatal drip. I can "churn the butter," "start the mower," and do "the q-tip"(think Hitch) with the best of them. However never once in my wildest thoughts and hopes and dreams does it occur to me that I want to, at my age, dance on stage for all the world to see. My children dance. All three of them take lessons they take between them perhaps close to every form they offer. Hip Hop, Jazz, Ballet, Musical Theatre, Modern, Lyrical, and my oldest daughter's favorite is Tap. I will and do sit and watch them dance for hours in their recitals twice a year. I drive them to practice after practice, I sit and wait and wait till I think I can't do this anymore.
I sit and talk to other mothers who are waiting for their children to get finished and some of them I have gotten to know quite well. Some of them wanted to take an adult hip hop class this last year and asked me to do this with them. I said no. They joined realized how difficult it was, how expensive it was, and perhaps heard my snickering and quit. I believe everyone should be allowed to take a dance class as long as you are taking it for the right reasons, personal growth, exercise, increased energy, making new friends perhaps. Never because you are middle aged didn't get to make a debut as a child and want to relive the "glory years." NO ONE wants to see that! I certainly don't nor would anyone I know. Dance in your kitchen, living room, heck dance in your back yard you own it who is anyone to judge what you do in your yard as long as it doesn't break any codes or laws, go for it. Personally I dance when no one is around in the privacy of my privacy fence when I'm almost certain no one is around to see me, even my children, who by the way find my dancing hideous and a complete embarrassment.
My point and I do have one, unless you dance as well or better than the dance teacher you should not as an adult be in a dance recital for children. Unless you think people need a nap halfway into the show or want to be comic relief. There I've said my peace. From one chicken winged old woman to another save yourselves the costume money enjoy the dance class then watch the kids from the audience like everyone else.