Getting Mom-ish

There were a bunch of girls here the other night for a sleepover. At 10:30pm, they decided to head out to a park nearby and a little later I "serendipitously" drove by and found them surrounded by a bunch of boys. This was a first for us, and I knew it was not something that my own child had initiated. I wished for Arron at that moment, almost laughing at the thought of him stepping into his "Mr. Bigpants" role and swaggering down the street to show a bunch of teen aged boys who was really in charge. It would have been his dream moment.

Half an hour after my drive-by, and a text to Olivia reminding her of her 11:30 curfew, they arrived back at the house, but I soon discovered that two were missing. I had a few panicked moments imaging myself dashing around the neighbourhood in the rain, calling parents. Then one arrived, followed a few minutes later by the other, followed by... a boy. The girl stepped through the door as I stood there, and the boy tried to do the same.

"Oh! You're coming in are you?" I said. We had a few awkward moments where we both hesitated wondering what to do. And then I called it. "I think this is a girl party," I said. "But thanks for walking the girls home." I got really mom-ish when I said "You know how to get home from here, right?"

I was surprised to not be caring if Olivia was embarrassed or if her friend was mad. I knew I had done the right "mom" thing.Having teenagers is complicated – like an ongoing game of Scruples. These tests of mom-ness certainly do teach us who we are as parents, and as humans.