Saturday, December 10, 2011

How Family Night Exploded

   In the spirit of the holiday season, we try to carve out a night to have some time just for the four of us.  It is such a great activity, that I included it in the advent calendar this year.  To make it more "official" (or maybe so my kids would think it was a requirement?) Hmmmm..... I'll have to ponder that one.

  Family night is special, but a Christmas time family night is even more so.  We pop popcorn, drink hot chocolate, snuggle up with some soft throw blankets and watch a Christmas movie.

It didn't happen that way this year.  Instead, here is how it happened......


son:  Mom, can I have a friend over to spend the night?

mom: Not tonight sweetheart.  Remember, we are going to have a family night and watch a Christmas      
movie?  Hot chocolate and popcorn - ringing a bell?

son: But Mom, sister got to spend the night last Friday night and I didn't.  You always say "no".

mom:  That's not true.  I would have let you last weekend but you didn't mention it and I can't help it if everyone has conflicting schedules anyway.

son:  But mom, I haven't seen this friend all week.

mom:  I can't help it if you have to go to school during the day.

son:  But mom, can't he just watch the movie with us?  He won't be any trouble.  I never get to have a sleepover.

mom:  But son, I just scheduled for you to sleepover with a friend from school next Friday night.

son:  But mom, that is my friend from school.  I haven't seen this neighborhood friend all week.

mom: How about if you play with him and return at dinner time?

husband (quietly mumbles):  "It's ok with me if it's ok with you."

son:  But that is not enough time.

mom:  Son, sometimes parents need it to be "just us".

son:  Pleeeeeeese?

mom:  I guess that would be okay.  Go see if he can spend the night. How about I go get the makings for smores and we roast them over the new fire pit?

After roasting marshmallows over the fire pit (and racking up some "your mom is cool" points) we retired to differing areas of the house.

(sometime later after having lost track of time)

mom:  where is everybody?  are we going to watch a movie? I start walking around looking for my peeps.  My husband is in the kitchen working.  Not on kitchen things mind you, but working all the same.  My daughter is watching Frosty the Snowman on T.V.  Okay, I thought to myself, one down two (actually three now) to go.  I go in the family room and discover that the boys are watching Dragon Ball Z Kai and playing on the computer and ipad.

son:  mom, can we just play a little longer?

(after looking at the time)

mom:  okay, that's fine

(after letting them play much too long)

mom: guys it's time to go to bed.

(my husband heads upstairs to help our daughter, while I work on Christmas cards)

So that's how family night quickly dissolved into "everyone to his/her own corner of the house" night.

I had good intentions.  Doesn't that count for something? I just got worn down by an incredibly tenacious 9-year-old.  What is a mother to do?

Side note:  We did get some snuggle time.  It involved my youngest in the bed sandwiched between my husband and me.  Even the furball doggy got in and joined us.  I decided not to ask the boys if they wanted to climb in.  I didn't think they would appreciate the humor. What if they didn't get the joke?  Then I would just become "weird mom", and after getting brushed off for family night, I didn't think my ego could take it:)

Much love, many laughs, and a Merry Christmas to you!