“But I Don’t Want A Social Life!”

I don’t know who I am but I stayed out after 10:00 two weekends in a row! Lillian was invited to go to Altitude Neon Night with a group of friends on Saturday night. She didn’t know any of these people 7 weeks ago and I really wanted her to go, but we were waiting on Matt’s Covid results (he wasn’t feeling great and had been exposed), so I originally said no. Well, when they came back negative Saturday evening, I changed my mind. But, I told her two things had to happen:

1. I was going too, and

2. Katie also got to go.

She was ok with both, because she knew it was the only way she was going, but she was sure to tell me that I was the only parent that was going to be there. And she was ok with Katie going, because she had Landry over that could go too. (Christy wasn’t worried about Covid because we were both 99% sure it was the same cold the girls had had, and they have already had it anyway) 

(They made us dinner!) 

When I asked Katie if she even wanted to go, and told her it didn’t start until 8 o’clock, she wasn’t sure. She knows herself and the fact that she likes her early bedtime. I told her I guess her sister has a social life now and that means we do too and her response was, “but I don’t want a social life!” 😂 I feel you KJ. 

But they had a blast and I’m glad we went. I thought Lillian was exaggerating but there really were only probably 15 parents that I saw. Altitude is apparently the place to be for middle schoolers on a Saturday night, and they have it set up pretty well. There’s a policeman at the door and the door is locked so that no one can come in, and the kids can only leave to go out to their ride. The out-of-the-way areas are blocked off and there are also police patrolling inside. You’re supposed to keep your hands to yourself and if you get caught breaking the rules, you’re banned from all future neon nights. So I know they are trying to make it safe, but I’m not so naïve to think that a determined teenager would not find a way around them. But maybe in a year or two I’ll be OK with her going. For now, I will be sitting on the balcony and no one but her friend Kaylee even knew I was there. I promised her I would not bug her but said she might as well get used to having stricter rules than the other kids if they were going out on their own at 11-12 years old. And I was glad to be there to finally be officially introduced to Kaylee too. The two of them talk almost every night and I can tell they are on their way to becoming very good friends.

There were 13 or 14 kids in their group from Benton, both girls and boys. It was a milestone being her first “night out” and I’m not sure that I’m ready! I can guarantee you her Daddy is not. 

The next morning, we got up and met Lily and Kelli at The Revel to watch Lily play the piano for Talented Music through the school. They had never been before so she was a nervous wreck when she saw the stage size and how many people, but she did great! 

We walked around a few minutes, got the girls some ice cream and then gave Lily her birthday present because it was on Saturday. It was a really fun weekend but we all needed to spend the rest of Sunday resting. 

I guess I’ll have to get used to being out of my house after dark again. 😆