we will take no tea today
there's a wonderful scene in felicity learns a lesson where felicity makes the momentous decision to not have any tea. it's tricky because the merrimans are openly supporting the patriots, but felicity doesn't want to offend her dear friend elizabeth, who is a tory. and while we can politely decline a drink, apparently it was considered the height of bad manners to do so some 200+ years ago. with the help of miss manderly, felicity learns the perfect phrase for such situations, "i will take no tea today, thank you" accompanied by carefully balancing one's spoon across the top of one's teacup. the message "i just can't do this, but it's not personal" and everyone understood. tea wasn't tea. it was the foundation of polite society, the center of all socializing for young ladies and gentlemen. and so it is today with the playdate.
as i frequently, loudly, tell anyone who will listen, my kids struggle in the afternoon. pete hibernates after lunch--and "hibernate" really is the only way to describe his 2-3 hour daily naps--and eleanor still finds kindergarten physically and emotionally exhausting. this creates a problem for us in two ways. first, most playdates occur in the afternoon on a weekday, which means that they miss out on these wonderful opportunities to interact in a less chaotic setting with peers. second, i work on the weekend, so the only time that i get to chat with my friends is during weekday playdates while our kids are occupied. it is with great hesistation that i ever schedule weekday, afternoon playdates.
however, sometimes i can't stand it any longer and say "what the hell, let's try it" and schedule one. like yesterday, when we visited friends whom my children know and really like. an easy-going child who plays equally well with both of mine. lots of things to do inside and out. snacks. but almost immediately, i could see that pete really did need that nap. and within 30 minutes or so, eleanor slipped into her new personna, surly, sassy-mouthed teen. they were demanding, difficult, mean to eachother, and rude to everyone. when i got them both back in the car, they immediately collapsed into tears and they were both alseep before 7:30. eleanor will be writing an apology to our hosts before emily can leave timeout, but i don't think we'll be trying this again for a while.
for now, we'll take no tea, thank you.
as i frequently, loudly, tell anyone who will listen, my kids struggle in the afternoon. pete hibernates after lunch--and "hibernate" really is the only way to describe his 2-3 hour daily naps--and eleanor still finds kindergarten physically and emotionally exhausting. this creates a problem for us in two ways. first, most playdates occur in the afternoon on a weekday, which means that they miss out on these wonderful opportunities to interact in a less chaotic setting with peers. second, i work on the weekend, so the only time that i get to chat with my friends is during weekday playdates while our kids are occupied. it is with great hesistation that i ever schedule weekday, afternoon playdates.
however, sometimes i can't stand it any longer and say "what the hell, let's try it" and schedule one. like yesterday, when we visited friends whom my children know and really like. an easy-going child who plays equally well with both of mine. lots of things to do inside and out. snacks. but almost immediately, i could see that pete really did need that nap. and within 30 minutes or so, eleanor slipped into her new personna, surly, sassy-mouthed teen. they were demanding, difficult, mean to eachother, and rude to everyone. when i got them both back in the car, they immediately collapsed into tears and they were both alseep before 7:30. eleanor will be writing an apology to our hosts before emily can leave timeout, but i don't think we'll be trying this again for a while.
for now, we'll take no tea, thank you.
posted by The Grauke-Collins Experience at Thursday, November 20, 2008
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