Lisa's Lines

I took my younger daughter to swimming lessons last weekend and then the two of us went out to lunch to celebrate her passing to the next level. While I ordered food, 4-year-old Ellen went to find us a table. After I paid and reorganized my purse, I turned to find her…

SHE WAS SITTING AT A TABLE WITH A RANDOM FAMILY.

Granted, there was one open chair left for me. The kid who Ellen was sitting next to had stopped mid-bite into his taco and was just staring at her while she proceeded to get comfortable--taking off her coat, hat, mittens, etc. The rest of the family also looked perplexed and did not engage her in conversation.

I didn't know what to do. It was awkward.

I tried to discreetly wave Ellen over to me, but she just smiled and happily waved from her seat at the table. Ugh. I had to walk over and explain to her (with the entire “random family" watching) that we don't sit with people we don’t know—especially when there are plenty of open tables available.

Ellen was NOT happy about this and refused to move. (Note: At no time did the family just say "Oh, it's okay… Join us.” They just kept looking at my little girl like she was an intruding alien. It was obvious that they were uncomfortable with her forwardness and our presence at their table.)

I had to do something. So, I picked up Ellen’s hat, coat, and mittens and moved them to a table on the other side of the restaurant. She was fuming!

Finally, our food was done. Ellen came over to my table and reached for her taco. The little stinker was going to take her taco back to the other table! By this time, the high-school age kid working behind the counter started to chuckle about the little drama playing out before him. A few other restaurant patrons also caught on and were watching and waiting for my next move. But… I had none. I didn’t know what to do! My initial thought was to reach out and grab her and hold her at my table, but that would have only caused more of a scene.

So, I quietly threatened her.

I pulled her close and whispered calmly in her ear, “If you don’t sit with me, you will never eat another taco.”

I know, it was a pathetic, desperate move. I can laugh about it now. And, I can think of a million other things I could have or should have said or done, but in the moment, it was all that came to mind.

Ellen did comply (she likes tacos), but refused to talk to me during our little lunch date.

We were still eating while the “random family” finished their meal and made their way to the door, which happened to be right next to our table.

Ellen noticed their departure, popped up and spouted: “GOODBYE!!!! Sorry! My mom’s kinda mean today!”

*****

After a few winters of not catching fish, the Ingebrands finally enjoyed a successful ice fishing season. We don’t have a fish house, so we bundle everyone up, haul out all our gear (and kids) in sleds, drill holes, and sit around in lawn chairs eating Goldfish crackers until someone gets a bite.

Of course, if the first bite takes longer than 10 minutes (or the snacks run out), our girls, Anna and Ellen, lose interest. This leads to creative play on the snow-covered ice field. They search for “treasures” left by other fishermen and make snow angels in the drifts or use a chisel to play tic tac toe or hop scotch on the ice (I don’t recommend the latter). They also like to pretend they are lost and need to survive on the lake. They get creative, and I love it. My husband and I get to fish and everyone is getting some fresh air.

If we’re still not pulling in the fish, one of the girls usually grabs the ice hole cleaner outter thing. The ice scoop? I don’t know what it’s called, but it’s a favorite.

The child holding the scooper starts by being helpful, clearing mommy and daddy’s fishing holes of slush. Then, she moves to the other holes (drilled for the kids) and starts cleaning them. Then, she starts tossing the slush… Then, she doesn’t pay attention to where she’s tossing the slush… and daddy gets slushed.

Then, the 4-year-old falls in a hole.

Then, mommy gets a fish and the ancient jiggle stick breaks in half.

Four-year-old walks through the mess of fishing line on the ice.

Daddy gets slushed again.

Big sister “accidentally” slushes little sister, who has removed her boot and sock to dump out the private lake she has acquired.

Frozen-foot little sister attacks big sister.

Daddy is reeling in a fish and mommy is still struggling to get the hook out of her fish (which is extremely difficult because the line is still wrapped around a moving child’s leg). Both parents are yelling.

Somehow daddy gets slushed again, which throws the girls into a fit of giggles.

Then, mom gets slushed.

Minnows are spilled and there’s a race to catch the slippery little guys and put them back in the bucket before they escape down a hole.

We trudge off the lake cold and tired—without fish. But, without fail, our girls beg to go out to “fish” again the next day.

I just don’t understand how some people can think ice fishing is boring.

*****

A monumental moment recently occurred.

I was taking my girls, 7-1/2-year-old Anna and almost-5-year-old Ellen, to a friend’s house. I put on my shoes, coat, hat, and mittens, grabbed my purse, headed to the garage, opened the garage door, got into my vehicle, buckled up, started the engine, and backed out.

Did you catch it?

For the first time in 7-1/2 years, I was able to get myself ready, walk to my vehicle with only my purse in tow, and depart from our garage in a timely, organized, non-chaotic manner WITH MY CHILDREN and their stuff safely secured in the vehicle.

For the first time ever, my kids got ready, walked to the vehicle, got in, and buckled up by themselves—without a fuss. Seriously. It happened.

Of course it’s a little bittersweet. It means my little girls are growing up.

But, at the same time… It’s AWESOME! It’s almost as liberating as being done with diapers.

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