Playdate from Hell

Today we get together with our first set of friends of friends.  It was one of those playdates where everything goes wrong; and not because of anything our hosts did… they couldn’t have been lovelier.  The mom had a beautiful house nestled into a hillside overlooking a harbor in Mosman (my favorite suburb as far as I could tell from my driving tour) and had invited us over for a late afternoon playdate and dinner.  She had a 2 year old daughter and 4 year old son.  I figured at least Graham would play with the boy, and Julia would occupy herself by either bossing someone around or finding some toys that interested her.

However, mostly Graham and the boy vied for the same toys and then gave up and played with their own toys, and Julia went from station to station plainly displeased with the selection (not for the lack of selection).  Then at dinner they quite vocally didn’t like this, they didn’t like that, all those manners that you try to instill in them went completely out the sliding glass door, off the deck and into that gorgeous bay.  At last, everyone quieted down when they started in on the cupcakes we’d brought.  Wine o’clock struck and the mom and I enjoyed a nice glass of Chardonnay and some fun adult conversation.  The playdate seemed salvageable. 

Until, as the mom was giving me some last tips and recommendations for Sydney before we left, we heard a giant crash.  I have to admit, as I looked in the direction of the noise, I hoped to see one of her children in front of whatever it was as the responsible party.  But nope, there was Julia, standing over the large living room lamp that had been resting on the hearth, now shattered into a million little shards of glass on the ground.  Judging from the mom’s involuntary gasp and long pause with her hand over her mouth, even though she later tried to reassure me it was okay, it was something she cared a bit about.  Her husband reacted the same way when he got home.  Ugh.  And they wouldn't let me try to replace it.  No better way to endear yourself to people you’ve just met than to have your kids ignore their kids, insult their meal, and then shatter the prized lamp they'd bought in Tribeca on your way out the door!  I’m sure we’ll be asked back soon!