long days

My mother babysat for us on Friday night so we could get a few hours out of the house to decompress. We got dressed up and went out and ordered martinis and appetizers. I called home after the salad was served and got an earful of Tessa screaming as my mother attempted to assure me that everything was fine and she could handle it. I might have believed her if I could have heard her. We got the rest of the meal to go. You know, a typical date night.

Tessa flashed me a triumphant grin when my mother passed her off to me. Easy one, my ass.

Anyway, my mom was here for less than three hours on Friday. She sat on the bedtime for Lucy's storytime while we read her set of Princess Stories: Kindness Counts (yes, I deeply regret that purchase.) In this set of stories, we learn a lot of lessons.

• From Ariel: always listen to your father and never explore
• From Snow White: it's nice to keep the house clean for the 7 men you live with
• From Jasmine: when you only have enough money for one thing at the bazaar, deny yourself the pretty necklace and buy your man a gift instead
• From Belle: don't bother with your silly reading, go home and help your father clean up.

I exaggerate, but really, only slightly. Anyway my mom was here for storytime on Friday night. And today we read those damn stories again before Lucy's nap, and now I smell like my mother's perfume. And so do Tessa and Lucy. That stuff has some staying power.