Oh life is so full of reality lately.
When I lived with Omar, we had a bizarre neighborhood devoid of children. Seriously, no children. I was always sad for Alex, knowing that as she grew older this neighborhood would be a lonely place for her. When I moved to my townhouse, I noticed that there seemed to be more children running around and there was even a little park down the street! Heaven!
I began thinking of Carol Brady:
I imagined the kids coming into the house after playing outside and having snacks for them and being the coolest mom. I wanted to be that house that all the kids felt they could go to to hang out. Getting even sicker, I even fantasized that these kids would call me "Ms. Nichols," instead of "Alex's Mom." Yeah, really.
Then, I began working from home this year and the fantasy got deeper. Alex even took the bus home, adding to the Betty Draper image:
I started baking cookies in the afternoon.
Then? Reality hit. The neighborhood has gradually evolved into one big rental community and sadly, not everyone has been careful about who they rent to. Many (okay, most) of the children in the neighborhood don't appear to have any consistent parental oversight and often are running around the neighborhood through normal meal times and well into the evening.
Alex and Gus are well meaning and often want to share the cookies, candy and juiceboxes that I provide. Soon, I was feeling like I should put a drivethrough window into my kitchen and begin serving meals. These children began showing up at my door brazenly asking for a" ham sandwich but no mustard and extra cheese." Another child asked me not to put nuts in my chocolate chip cookies next time. Alex's best friend has begun showing up around 7:30 each morning (we get out of bed at about 7:15) and over time has begun to consistently eat breakfast with us.
This is now me at the grocery store (look! buying MORE cereal):
I've begun saying no, all 13 kids in my front yard cannot come inside, and no, I don't have rice krispy bars for all of them and NO, I'm not making you another goddamned sandwich!
Now when I see shows where the kids all come running into the kitchen and begin raiding the fridge I think, "Oh you fool. They're gonna polish all of that orange juice and look! Now they're eating that entire box of Pop Tarts. Now you have to go to the store tomorrow for Round Two..."
I guess all fantasies have a reality.
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