I don’t remember how old I was when I attended my first birthday party, but I’m fairly confident it was older than three. Alaina’s last two birthdays have featured bounce houses and “friends”, but those friends were her multiple cousins and the children of mommy and daddy’s friends. I figured we had several more years before we would be dealing with a whole yard full of rugrats to entertain.
One of Alaina’s powderpuff posse members recently turned five, and as befits a young lady of that age, she was allowed to invite a few of her school friends to the party. Alaina was ecstatic about the invitation. When told it meant she would be attending a party, doubly so.
Drop off for her school is between 12:15-12:30, with the pick-up in the afternoon between 3:00-3:15. She goes three days a week, with two of these falling on “daddy days”. This turns out to be an incredibly short window to try and accomplish those things I am unable to do with a “helper.” There are roofs to shovel, toilets to clean, video games to play. There is no time for socialization between parents. The goal is to drop and run as quickly as possible, later to grab and go.
This contributed to me being far less enthusiastic about the party. I had no idea which of these little princesses we would be fetting or which parents I would now be forced to engage in conversation with. I assumed the expectation would be for me to stay, but wasn’t completely sure. What was the protocol in a situation like this? I had absolutely no idea.
It turned out to be about as awkward as expected. Family and friends of the birthday girl gathered in one room, while myself and several other school moms followed our kids into another. The hosts were very gracious but still basically strangers. Standing in a corner with my punch and cold pizza I tried to avoid eye contact with the women across the room, occasionally being bumped out of the way by those having much more fun than I was. I couldn’t help but be reminded of sixth-grade dinner dances.
Fortunately, my time in this purgatory was short. I had to work that afternoon, so after a few hours we collected our goody bag, said our goodbyes, and headed out. The promise of an afternoon with Grammy made this exit far less painful than I had feared.
Not unexpectedly, this has led to increased anticipation and planning for her own birthday party. I’m not sure where I am going to find a talking unicorn between now and May, but I’m pretty sure we are going to need a bigger cake.
—
Originally published on Musings of a Thirsty Daddy
—
◊♦◊
Here are more ways to become a part of The Good Men Project community:
Request to join our private Facebook Group for Writers—it’s like our virtual newsroom where you connect with editors and other writers about issues and ideas.
Click here to become a Premium Member of The Good Men Project Community. Have access to these benefits:
- Get access to an exclusive “Members Only” Group on Facebook
- Join our Social Interest Groups—weekly calls about topics of interest in today’s world
- View the website with no ads
- Get free access to classes, workshops, and exclusive events
- Be invited to an exclusive weekly “Call with the Publisher” with other Premium Members
- Commenting badge.
Are you stuck on what to write? Sign up for our Writing Prompts emails, you’ll get ideas directly from our editors every Monday and Thursday. If you already have a final draft, then click below to send your post through our submission system.
If you are already working with an editor at GMP, please be sure to name that person. If you are not currently working with a GMP editor, one will be assigned to you.
◊♦◊
Are you a first-time contributor to The Good Men Project? Submit here:
◊♦◊
Have you contributed before and have a Submittable account? Use our Quick Submit link here:
◊♦◊
Do you have previously published work that you would like to syndicate on The Good Men Project? Click here:
Join our exclusive weekly “Call with the Publisher” — where community members are encouraged to discuss the issues of the week, get story ideas, meet other members and get known for their ideas? To get the call-in information, either join as a member or wait until you get a post published with us. Here are some examples of what we talk about on the calls.
Want to learn practical skills about how to be a better Writer, Editor or Platform Builder? Want to be a Rising Star in Media? Want to learn how to Create Social Change? We have classes in all of those areas.
While you’re at it, get connected with our social media:
- To join our Facebook Page, go here.
- To sign up for our email newsletter, go here.
- To follow The Good Men Project on Twitter, go here.
◊♦◊
However, you engage with The Good Men Project—you can help lead this conversation about the changing roles of men in the 21st century. Join us!
◊♦◊
We have pioneered the largest worldwide conversation about what it means to be a good man in the 21st century. Your support of our work is inspiring and invaluable.
—
Photo credit: Shutterstock ID 79774912