There was no sewing this weekend. I am astonished to relate that while FL and I were invited out to dinner at a golf-buddy's house, The Girl was at a 16th-birthday party.
Neither she nor we are accustomed to such socializing.
I am so very pleased to report that she has found a small group of girls at school who accept her for who she is, side-cut and all.
It now feels as if whatever decision she makes re 6th Form (stay here or go to London), it will be OK.
FL and I survived our social exposure too.
He wasn't feeling very well, but this dinner appointment has been pending for about two years now so we didn't feel we could turn it down at the last moment.
It felt like being in an episode of "Come Dine With Me". There was fancy food in a very fancy house and lots of "chit chat". FL did not stop the host from re-filling his wine glass. This was not clever, but he's a big boy now and I am not his mother. He is paying for it today (smirking? Me?!?).
The big problem now is that FL feels we need to reciprocate.
I cannot begin to imagine what the host and hostess would make of our home. They had a crystal coffee table. There was a chrome bar with LED lights around it. An enormous flat screen tv. Ornaments. Candles. Pictures on the wall. Dried flowers. A collage of photos of previous dinner guests, to which we will be added. (The Girl plans to use this concept in a short story, it seems so fantastically fictional!)
It was all clean and shiny and new and proud. No doghair or dust or newspapers or piles of ash cascading from the grate.
FL, of course, will say it doesn't matter and they should take us as they find us. But I would rather we remained un-found.
So, yesterday was a knitting day. Today I cleaned. FL had "a little sleep" which lasted all day.
15 comments:
I absolutely adore the Girl's style! That lipstick really suits her. She has has your smile too :)
Dinner sounds interesting. It sounds like a great opportunity to people watch!
Ashley x
I'm with you in that many ways I prefer a nice quiet evening at home! lol. Love the photos you and the Girl...you do definitely have the same smile and I like her hair too! And oh your dress and matching shoes! LOVE!
The girl looks alot like you. I laughed so much reading this post, especially about you wanting to be "unfound", and FL having a little sleep which lasted all day.
Delighted to hear The Girl has found a group of accepting girls - you're right it will make all the difference to her 6th form decision. And she should definitely write a description of that house in a short story - I laughed out loud when I read the words "crystal coffee table"!
You're both looking fab too, love your shoes. x
What a fab mother-daughter duo! The Girl has inherited your amazing cheekbones, and your sense of humour as well to judge from the short-story impulse.
I nearly got hives reading about the dinner party, and then when you said you might have to reciprocate - ! All I can suggest is reciprocating at a restaurant somewhere? Oh me...
Your daughter looks wonderful - I so admire her for embracing her personal style, something it's taken me years to do....
Crystal coffee table? Goodness. I'm with you, unfound and not having to worry about what guests think of my house sounds quite preferable.
Do you mind me asking where your shoes are from? I LOVE!
Cee - the shoes are from Urban Outfitters, but last year I am afraid, so probably long gone.
Thanks to everyone for your lovely comments re The Girl :)
And what a relief that you don't think it's ME who is bizarre... sometimes I am not sure!
Aww---look at the two of you. She does look like you! :)
I think FL is right---if they like you, it should be for YOU. That being said, I know the feeling... My house is never quite as stylish and tidy as any of the kids' friend's parents, and that's not even bringing up the income gap :P. And if you're going to have people over, it should be because you enjoy them, not because you feel obliged.
Good luck figuring it out! (and to The Girl deciding what to do school-wise)
oh, roo - so lovely to see the girl and you; she has so much of you in her beautiful face! so glad she's found a nice group of friends she can be herself with. as to the dinner party - i, too, shudder with dread if guests are coming, one's we hardly know. but it often winds up that they really enjoy themselves; when i tell them a good deal of what's about our home was found longside the road somewhere and we just re-hab'd it, they swoon with admiration. never under estimate the appeal of uniqueness and creativiness - 2 qualities you possess in spades. also, a good nip of something "relaxing" just before they arrive is helpful! hugs, karen
This really made me smile at the end of a rough day in a&e - thank you! x
A crystal coffee table? Wowzers! Are their side tables made of gold? Don't even attempt to compete with that and follow your instincts, say I! On another topic, your daughter is beautiful and you have a girl there to be proud of. Love the tights she's wearing! You look gorgeous, too!
I LOVE The Girl's style. And that she's making new friends.
Remain unfound, I say! Obligatory dinners are a nightmare. Much better to spend the evening with people who don't care if all you serve is jacket potatoes.
You look like sisters. Excellent genes!
You have a presence that reaches out to those around you. Your dinner guests will be genuinely interested with all you are doing and with all that is happening around you. It may be a welcome chance to drop the facade that demands a crystal table, and just relax with more intellectual stimulation than they are used to.
Anon's advice is good too. A tiny nip of a fortifying spirit takes the edge off...
Amazing style both of you - I can remember my first Mary Quant hair style which was almost the same as your daughters - how I loved it and how wonderful it was to be different from my peers. Glad to read you have been having some fun and enjoying an evening out. Even though it may not be entirely what you would rather be doing it is always fun to think about afterwards and chuckle over. Glad to read too that FL continues on well- blessings.
You both look gorgeous, The Girl has so much of you in her face and you both look happy! As far as reciprocating.. well it would freak me out too but I always look at those opportunities as a chance to show your own uniqueness. Anyway, if it took them 2 years to invite you I wouldn't feel guilty about waiting nearly as long to do the reciprocal bit..
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