A Little Adult Conversation

I really look forward to girls' night out. I normally have to be the organizer for these social get togethers with my girlfriends, and I will seek out any and all reasons to gather. We meet to celebrate birthdays, discuss job promotions, encourage graduations, share fashion finds, and of course, gloat about our kids' latest amazing accomplisments. Want to know an immediate way to manuever into a mommy group? Just mention potty training. Potty training is a universal topic of all mom groups across the world. Have a success story? We're all ears.

So tonight, my wonderful husband watched all four kiddos so I could go out and have some girl time. My sister organized the dinner for 6:30 PM, and by 5:15 PM, I was wondering, why, oh why, didn't she set it for a wee bit earlier?! When I took off, the kids were scrubbed clean and outfitted in their jammies. As I attempted to sneak out the door, G cried pretty hard, and the girls muttered a weak, "No, mommy, don't go," and J.D. gave his dad a high five. Danny looked a bit haggard, but I comforted myself with the thought that all would be well once I left.

What a nice time we had. The food was nothing special, but the easy banter with friends, and laughter at no one's expense was priceless. I always end up leaving these outings by feeling more human somehow. It's like being inside all day caring for the little ones leaves me a bit numb, and I forget that I, too, have important things to say and opinions that matter to my peers. Sometimes just listening to friends mull over the newest Tori Burch sandal and discuss the always necessary topic of labor and delivery, bonds us all a little tighter to this thing called motherhood. We can be moms and love our kids and still have a little adult conversation to get us through.

When I arrived back home, Danny was reading Bible stories to the girls (yeah, Joseph and that cool dream coat!), and they looked beyond adorable in their little Cinderella nightgowns. Cubby jumped up and wanted a hug, E followed closely behind. Then they argued about who got to snuggle with mommy first. Meanwhile, Danny is still reading from the Bible. This is such a great analogy for who Danny is in all things: ever steady and reliable despite the chaos going on around him.

Snuggle time is precious, priceless time. Cubby fell asleep almost immediately. E, however, had some important things on her mind. She wanted to tell me all the secret stuff from school that day, like, who got their name on the board, who was absent, how at lunch time, nobody can talk. All the really important, juicy stuff. It's probably corny, but I love this time. She describes the simplest things from her day in the most urgent way, like she's been needing to tell me this all day, and now that all those other ruffians in the house are finally in bed, she can spill it. I loved listening to her sweet voice tell me these wonderful details. I realized, lying there, how lucky I am to have daughters, and not just one daughter, three!!! Three beautiful daughters who want to talk to me before they fall asleep at night. I am so blessed!