I had avoided this discussion with our seven year old or somehow managed to steer the conversation in a different direction, I can’t remember. Either way, I wasn’t expecting the sleepover question to come from my five year old but there it was.
Ellie: Mommy, can I have a sleepover?
Me: Sure, we can have a camp-out in the family room.
Ellie: NO! A sleepover at someone’s house.
Me: Sure, Grandma and Grandpa would love to have a sleepover with you guys.
Ellie: With MY FRIEND! Allison has had a sleepover and so has Grace and so has Jocelyn.
There it was. The set-up I’d been waiting for. I must admit, I was caught a little off guard, it almost seemed cruel to be spoon fed the punch line but I wasn’t going to blow the opportunity. From the time I was seven I had waited until the moment I was a parent and could finally ask the question that was asked of me so many times my eyes nearly bugged right out of the sockets and fell to the floor. Here was my moment and I was centre stage with their undivided attention.
Me: If Allison, Grace and Jocelyn jumped off a bridge would you?
She honestly walked right into that one like a total rookie. It actually felt even better hearing that sentence with a name other than Crystal.
Both older girls looked at me like I was a bag of nuts.
Out of context?
Today’s answer, “I would LOVE to jump off a bridge. I want one of those cool parachute fanny packs where you free-fall for the first bit and then glide under a cave and land gracefully like a duck in the water.”
Girls in unison: Can we jump off a bridge mom?
Me: I thought we were talking about sleepovers?
I guess I should have asked, “If Allison, Grace and Jocelyn were sliding down one of those metal slides or spinning on those community park merry-go-rounds that send you flying just prior to hurling up your lunch, would you do it too?” but the bridge thing had been weighing on my mind. I really felt the need to ask somebody. How about, “If Allison, Grace and Jocelyn rode around in a laundry basket in the car instead of a five point harness would you?”
Times have changed.
Ellie: So, can I?
I know I’m going to end up caving eventually. Neither Corey Hart nor Cyndi Lauper have put out a record in over twenty years so I have no idea what they’re going to play on the cassette deck.
