By Kelli Bowen
When I was very small I lived on the same farm as my grandparents. It was only some yards of grass between me and dancing on cowboy boots, banana popsicles, chocolate chip cookies dipped in coffee, lots of “helping” and slumber parties.
I recall getting all ready for bed in my nightie, being in awe of Grandpa’s very long books; they had numbers three digits long! I’d get extra buttery popcorn and watch The Golden Girls or M*A*S*H with Grandma and then about the time I was supposed to go to bed, I’d chicken out and Grandma would walk me back over to my own house. I wanted my own bed and after an evening of thinking this was the night, I’d remember how much I like my own bed, and that is what I got.
There was just something scary about staying somewhere other than my own bed.
On Saturday Miss A went to a birthday party and was invited to sleep over. Her friend lives less than a mile from us as the crow flies but I wasn’t sure. When I mentioned it to Hubby, he just said “Oh boy.”
Miss A hasn’t slept over with anyone other than a couple semi-traumatic attempts with grandparents. She also gets some extra attention at bedtime, which half of the time turns into me passing out in her bed and waking up a couple hours later.
I asked her if she was really sure, “Oh Yeah!!” à la Koolaid Man was her response. I started to say if she didn’t feel comfortable, “I’ll just walk home!” she enthusiastically yelled as she ran with her little suitcase towards her friend’s dad’s pickup.
That was about 6:30 p.m.
10:00 p.m. I get the call. “She is ready to come home.” I drove over to the neighboring culdesac and before I even pulled into their driveway, little Miss A came holding her little red suitcase and looking done.
We headed for home and I hear her from the backseat: “I want a cartoon, a snack and some snuggles.”
…and THAT is exactly what she got.
Kelli makes her home in Cass County with her husband, two daughters (10 and 7) and two dogs. She works for a regional seed company by day and tries to be an alright mom, wife, friend and writer by night.
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