November 21st, 2008 by Jennine

Our elementary school-aged kids have an after school event today, a party of sorts, to celebrate their fundraising efforts from earlier in the school year. This has caused quite the stir in our home with behind-the-scenes plans being made after lights-out in the wee hours of 9:30 p.m.

Yesterday I overheard Elly and Nathanael discuss how to find each other:

Elly: Nathanael, this is a PARTY and it’s going to be crazy. We need a plan to meet up after the bell rings.

Nathanael: Yeah. How about by the third grade bathrooms?

Elly: Okay. You can hang with me and my friends, but don’t do anything to embarrass me.

Nathanael: I won’t.

One would think after listening to their conversation that they were going to a rave in Las Vegas.

This party was the first thing they talked about this morning. Nathanael approached me and said “Is this shirt okay, Mom?”

First time he’s ever shown any indication of clothes awareness.

“Yeah, Scoots. It’s even on the right way! You’re good.”

And then he said my favorite words ever.

“Since I’m going to be gone a long time today, I need a long hug.”

I know it’s not proper to revel in my child’s nervousness but, this morning, I totally did.