10 days left before Christmas and I think I'll make it. I actually shopped at two malls this weekend - neither extremely successful but E seemed to enjoy himself so it was all good.
This was a weekend in split parenting. A had a big tennis tournament in Allen on Saturday. It's one of those that if she wins out on Saturday, she plays again on Sunday for the semis and finals. Well, not that I do not have faith in my daughter's tennis ability but our experience has been that we get all bundled up for these tournaments, pack lots of snack and things for E to do during the day and then A loses in the first two matches and we go home. With this one being just a few weekends before Christmas, there was lots to be done and sitting at a tennis tournament for an entire day seemed like a crazy idea. So we decided DH would go to the tennis tourney w/ A. I would then spend Saturday w/ E shopping and getting stuff done around the house. I had arranged to deliver a Scentsy order to a friend in Arlington so we met near the Parks Mall. I figured after lunch, E and I could get some shopping done. Oh my gosh - 30 minutes to park. 45 minutes in line at Bath & Body Works to check out. 45 minutes to get out of the parking lot. 20 minutes to get up on the highway. The only saving grace of the whole experience was that E was willing to ride in the stroller so I had a place to put the bags and he was such a good boy thru the whole process (except for the fact that he's obviously on a world bathroom tour but that's another story). By the time we got out of the mall, it was too late to get all the way to Allen for A's quarter finals tennis match. Yep, oh me of little faith - she actually won her first two matches of the day and had advanced to the quarter finals. UGH! To make matters worse for my mommy guilt - she won the next match too and I'd missed all three. Her father said she played some incredible tennis that day and he'd really seen her game 'turn the corner'. Oh great, 8 years of lesson, 5 years of sitting thru tournaments, thousands of dollars invested in rackets, outfits, drills, shoes, etc. and I miss the darn 'turning'. Just great!
Did I mention that her next match was Sunday at 11:30 in Allen for the semi-finals? Did I also mention that I had an appointment at Sears at 10:30 to have E's Christmas and birthday pictures taken? Did I also mention that I'd promised the little guy that we'd meet Santa on Sunday? So once again, I had to disappoint my daughter and spend the day keeping my son happy. How is it fair that if you have more than one child - your life becomes a balancing act of trying not to scar one for life too much when you spend time with the other? Luckily, A was so excited about her wins that she wasn't too disappointed in me. E's picture session was trying. He is so shy and hates strangers. Well, the photographer was a stranger (silly me for not introducing them sooner). He would not smile unless I stood behind the photographer and made silly faces. I'm sure I entertained the whole lobby as I stuck my fingers up my nose and stuck out my tongue. Sorry no pictures of me in the act that I know of. After finishing the Sears experience, we head into the mall in search of the big guy in the red suit. Imagine the fear rising in my brain as I realize the center of the mall has kiosks but no Santa setup. I'm about to tell my son that Santa couldn't make it Golden Triangle Mall on this day when he looks up at me and says "he's here, I can feel it". So we look down the different arms of the mall and sure enough, near Macy's was a setup that looked like it might be Santa's workshop. Did I mention my son is painfully shy and hates strangers? Well, imagine my surprise when my almost 4 year old runs straight up the entrance and jumps in Santa's lap. He tells him that he wants a Speed Racer track for Christmas (no I had no idea and do not have one). He then turns and smiles for the camera and doesn't want to leave Santa's lap. Of all the Christmas memories I thought I'd have this year - seeing my son make buddies with Santa was not one of them. No, it did not make up for missing my daughter play great tennis - but it sure is up at the top of my list!
I did redeem myself with her a bit. She lost her semi-final and they met me at the house at 2pm where I helped her prepare for her Cotillion Winter Dance. She asked me to stay at the dance and watch the whole time. Since I'd disappointed her all weekend, I figured this was the least I could do. I had so much to do at home but I sat there with a few of the other moms and watched our well groomed, nicely dressed middle schoolers do the fox trot and swing with one another. It was actually a wonderful experience. Of course, she's taller than 85% of the boys in the program but no one seemed to mind. During one dance, four boys cut in to dance with her. She beamed and I was there to see it. I guess I was beaming too. I think she forgives me for missing her tennis and I think I can forgive myself too.
Despite all the running around, I managed to get the laundry done, hung and put away. I also wrapped and organized the presents under the tree and did some work on the computer. All in all, I will chalk this up as one fairly successful split parenting weekend w/ a sprinkle of guilt. I know DH wishes he could have seen the Santa experience so he has his own guilt to deal with.
Hope all my friends and loved ones are having a relaxing, wonderful, holiday preparation.
P.S. - say some prayers for my friend Ms. K's daughter, H, who is having surgery on her foot this morning. H is a figure skater and we are all hoping this surgery to repair a section of dead bone in the growth plate of her foot is success and she's able to pursue her dreams on the ice again soon. She is my daughter's age and the two are friends so we are all praying for H to have a very speedy and complete recovery.
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