Today we had our second eldest daughter's 10th birthday party!! It started promptly at 2pm...and was, well...different. Usually, we invite a couple of the neighbor girls and one of our daughter's old public school friends that she is still in touch with. Along with them, usually a couple 'shared' friends of our other daughters. This year, we decided on mostly new homeschool friends that are a better influence on our girls. We had also invited her former public school friend and one other friend...however, they both couldn't make it. (bummer)

Well, three girls showed up...two from one family and one from another. This is fine, since we have a VERY TINY house (less than 900 sq ft..WITH the garage!). However, I wasn't planning on the parents staying. This was a new one for me. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against this and was a pleasant surprise. It was nice having other adults to talk to! It did leave us a little short on space though...ha ha! (We adults take up more space than a bunch of tiny girls! ha!) They were some of the parents from co-op & Awanas that we went to the Creation Museum with...very nice folks. Love talking with them so much! I found myself feeling a bit awkward though...which I start to get a lil too gabby when I'm feeling awkward/nervous. Never having had parents stick around for any of the girls' parties before, I kind of felt like I was under scrutiny.  I know...ridiculous, but I felt it nonetheless. I later found out that they had stuck around because of how far away from our place that they live! (all the more sweet that they came!!) Our party was only planned for two hours and staying is understandable...can't leave for home and then come back in such a short time...would be a waste of time and gas. My girls' usual party friends had lived right in our neighborhood. So...I felt kinda like an idiot for not even thinking of all this. Also...I dont know if it's usual 'homeschool' practice to stick around,as the parent, at kids' parties they're invited to or not. I've not been to any, nor have my kids; only a few other kids in their classes from public school when they attended. The parents usually just dropped their kids off, found out when to pick them up and left. Man, sometimes I feel so new to all the homeschool stuff...not just the teaching, but the people, and atmosphere.

Honestly, I've always been such a hermit over the years. We hardly ever go out with anyone our age...except for the occasional work-related party for my hubby. I know a few of his co-workers but we dont' hang out or anything. Most of my friends are from college and live states away...the rest are family. So...having people over today was....well, 'new'.  Yep, of nearly twelve years of marriage you'd think we'd have had a lot of people over for dinners or something...nope. Outside of immediate family...not a one. (well, one...but he was like a brother to us) Being the hostess today for not just kids, but adults..was quite new and a bit awkward...but nice.  But in light of all this 'newness' today...it was fun. I had a good time...so did all the little girls running around the house. It was sunny and nice so we let the kids outside after all the indoor games, cake and ice cream were over. I just hope that the kids AND adults that came over today had a good time, regardless of my lack of 'hostess' skills and space.  We enjoyed having them all over!

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Posted by seekingHim

For the record, for a 10yo b-day party with a family I knew pretty well, I would have dropped off and gone shopping nearby(used it as time for myself:) - and we have hsed from the beginning. If I didn't know them well, I probably would have stuck around, but told the hostess ahead of time that it was my plan (and probably offer to help out). Sounds like you rolled with the punches and were probably reading more into everything than you needed to, a character trait I share with you:)
Blessings!
-Jennifer

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Posted by momto4beauties

Thank you, Jennifer! It's good to know I'm not the only one that gets that way (reading into things) and that I too would've probably gone shopping as a parent. ha ha! These parents don't know me real well...just at co-op (which started mid-Jan) and Awanas(which we've only been to two weeks so far). So, them sticking around is understandable...was just caught a bit off guard I guess.

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