Last Friday was Sonya's Family Picnic at school. This is something we always look forward to every year, and this year even more, because the In-N-Out truck was going to be there. Then the heat wave came and it was 100 million degrees on Friday. I was not about to miss that Family Picnic, because dammit we had pre-paid tickets for burgers at the In-N-Out truck. It was later in the day, and we didn't get there until almost 5:30 and I would like to say that meant it started cooling off, but it did not. According to the temperature gauge in my car it was 105. At 5 PM. PM meaning evening. That was sooo NOT okay. Still...In-N-Out. For those of you who don't know about or haven't had In-N-Out, I'm sorry. (This blog is not being sponsored by them, I swear. Well, at least I don't think so. Maybe check the ads. It's purely coincidence if they have an ad there.)
Back to the picnic! So we get there and the line of the truck is, of course, forever long in the 100 degree heat and sun. I immediately go stand in it, because we were all hungry and I knew it would better to just get it over with. I didn't, however, feel like listening to three kids whine and complain about how hot it was, or when we were going to be done standing in line. You have to keep in mind that I don't have a husband with a 9-5 job, so he tends to miss these kinds of things. He has actually made the picnic the past two years, but this year he works for a new company, that is actually busy. Good and bad. Good because he will have a job for a while, but bad, because I have to go to things like this solo now. Oh well! I like to eat, wear clothes and have a roof over my head, so I accept it.
Anyway, I gave each of the girls a dollar and told them to go get something from the bake sale table. I could see it from where I was standing. I made sure to let everyone know that Sonya was in charge and they should stay with her. In turn, I reminded her to keep an eye on them. I wasn't really concerned because, after two years, I know or recognize the other parents and kids at the school. Plus we were on the playground of the school, which is completely enclosed and they knew where to find me. I was going to be in that line for a while. So they went to get their treats, but came back pretty quickly. Since I knew I had at least another 15 minutes to go and that their little patience wouldn't last that long, I gave Sonya the pink bedsheet I had brought for us to sit and eat on. I told her to go lay it out on the grassy area. There were cheerleaders from the middle school entertaining the people sitting on the grass, and I thought they would like that. Again, I reminded everyone to stay with Sonya and for Sonya to watch them. I figured, she's six, almost seven. That's babysitting age in some parts of the country, right? I'm pretty sure in West Virginia the babysitting age is at least 6, maybe even 5. I could see the grassy area from where I was too, so don't get all worried. But like I said I know the school, and the people, so I wasn't too concerned. Not as concerned as I was when this happened two years ago.
I finally made it to the front of the line and placed my order. As I was standing there with the stroller, waiting for my number to be called, I thought I heard I heard them say something familiar on the microphone at the front of the playground. They were playing music and making announcements, and then I heard this,
"We have Georgia up here."
Wait-did I just hear them say Georgia?
"Georgia is looking for her mother. Could Georgia's mother please come up here."
Yup, they said Georgia. But there could be another Georgia looking for her mom right? Yeah, not likely. One of the reasons we gave my girls their names, is because they're not popular overused names. It's not like they were looking for the mom of Emma or Lilly. I looked up to where the announcement was being made and sure enough there is Georgia being held by one of the moms I recognize from PTA. Then I look over at my pink sheet in the grass and see Sonya and Lana sitting there unfazed. I walk to the front and take Georgia, who is not crying or upset mind you, just looking for me.
"Why aren't you with sissy? You were supposed to stay with her," I said.
"I was yooking for you," she explained.
I carry her back over to the In-N-Out truck to wait for our food and I give her a drink. Then Lana came over to me standing in line, wondering what was taking so long. I give her a drink too, and send them back over to the pink sheet, where Sonya was paying no attention to the fact that now BOTH of her sisters were gone.
I finally got my food and headed over to the grassy area. I handed out burgers and chips to everyone, and we all started enjoying our meal. About halfway through, Sonya said to me,
"It was so funny, because when you were waiting for the food before, I heard them saying that a girl named Georgia was looking for her mom! Just like my sister's name is Georgia! Isn't that funny?"
"Sonya," I calmly said to her, "that WAS your sister."
"It was?" She asked.
"Yes," I said. "You were supposed to be keeping an eye on her, remember?"
"Oh, I thought she was with you," was the only response she gave me.
Sooooo, I guess she's not quite ready for the babysitting responsibilities yet. Well, it's a good thing I found out now, because Andy and I were all set to leave them alone next Saturday night.
Back to the picnic! So we get there and the line of the truck is, of course, forever long in the 100 degree heat and sun. I immediately go stand in it, because we were all hungry and I knew it would better to just get it over with. I didn't, however, feel like listening to three kids whine and complain about how hot it was, or when we were going to be done standing in line. You have to keep in mind that I don't have a husband with a 9-5 job, so he tends to miss these kinds of things. He has actually made the picnic the past two years, but this year he works for a new company, that is actually busy. Good and bad. Good because he will have a job for a while, but bad, because I have to go to things like this solo now. Oh well! I like to eat, wear clothes and have a roof over my head, so I accept it.
Anyway, I gave each of the girls a dollar and told them to go get something from the bake sale table. I could see it from where I was standing. I made sure to let everyone know that Sonya was in charge and they should stay with her. In turn, I reminded her to keep an eye on them. I wasn't really concerned because, after two years, I know or recognize the other parents and kids at the school. Plus we were on the playground of the school, which is completely enclosed and they knew where to find me. I was going to be in that line for a while. So they went to get their treats, but came back pretty quickly. Since I knew I had at least another 15 minutes to go and that their little patience wouldn't last that long, I gave Sonya the pink bedsheet I had brought for us to sit and eat on. I told her to go lay it out on the grassy area. There were cheerleaders from the middle school entertaining the people sitting on the grass, and I thought they would like that. Again, I reminded everyone to stay with Sonya and for Sonya to watch them. I figured, she's six, almost seven. That's babysitting age in some parts of the country, right? I'm pretty sure in West Virginia the babysitting age is at least 6, maybe even 5. I could see the grassy area from where I was too, so don't get all worried. But like I said I know the school, and the people, so I wasn't too concerned. Not as concerned as I was when this happened two years ago.
I finally made it to the front of the line and placed my order. As I was standing there with the stroller, waiting for my number to be called, I thought I heard I heard them say something familiar on the microphone at the front of the playground. They were playing music and making announcements, and then I heard this,
"We have Georgia up here."
Wait-did I just hear them say Georgia?
"Georgia is looking for her mother. Could Georgia's mother please come up here."
Yup, they said Georgia. But there could be another Georgia looking for her mom right? Yeah, not likely. One of the reasons we gave my girls their names, is because they're not popular overused names. It's not like they were looking for the mom of Emma or Lilly. I looked up to where the announcement was being made and sure enough there is Georgia being held by one of the moms I recognize from PTA. Then I look over at my pink sheet in the grass and see Sonya and Lana sitting there unfazed. I walk to the front and take Georgia, who is not crying or upset mind you, just looking for me.
"Why aren't you with sissy? You were supposed to stay with her," I said.
"I was yooking for you," she explained.
I carry her back over to the In-N-Out truck to wait for our food and I give her a drink. Then Lana came over to me standing in line, wondering what was taking so long. I give her a drink too, and send them back over to the pink sheet, where Sonya was paying no attention to the fact that now BOTH of her sisters were gone.
I finally got my food and headed over to the grassy area. I handed out burgers and chips to everyone, and we all started enjoying our meal. About halfway through, Sonya said to me,
"It was so funny, because when you were waiting for the food before, I heard them saying that a girl named Georgia was looking for her mom! Just like my sister's name is Georgia! Isn't that funny?"
"Sonya," I calmly said to her, "that WAS your sister."
"It was?" She asked.
"Yes," I said. "You were supposed to be keeping an eye on her, remember?"
"Oh, I thought she was with you," was the only response she gave me.
Sooooo, I guess she's not quite ready for the babysitting responsibilities yet. Well, it's a good thing I found out now, because Andy and I were all set to leave them alone next Saturday night.
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