Twinkle: Sigh.

 Sigh. 

Today Husband and I went to the football game. We had a nice time. The kids stayed home and Middle had plans to go to a friend’s house to practice basketball drills because she and all her friends have recently joined the basketball team. 

I made plans with another mom to get Middle to and from this gathering. I’m always happy to take anybody’s kid anywhere. I want to help moms and I want my kids to have their friends around, plus there are three of them so when I help out, I’m paying into a larger system of goodwill. Today I called in a favor to a mom I have helped a lot. Not that it has to be so transactional, but I needed help today. She agreed to take Middle to and from this friend’s house. It was all planned. Middle was to be picked up at around 1:30 for a 2 o’clock arrival at the home of the friend who was hosting the basketball meetup.

When we got back from the game, we stopped at a family party where I saw MIL. She mentioned that she had taken my kids to lunch. They were at lunch at 1:25 when Middle mentioned that she was getting picked up by a friend’s mom at some point soon. MIL had no idea about this plan and had to rush back home to get her there for her pickup time.

Sigh.

This is what I am talking about, y’all. Has anyone ever thought of looping me into the plans? Has anyone ever thought, “Their mother probably has a plan for them—let’s ask her.” I can arrange rides for my kids ALL DAY LONG. I can coordinate the logistics until the cows come home, but until my in-laws GO THROUGH ME ABOUT THE PLANS, I will be screwed every time. And what I really feel bad about is this other mom, who I had coordinated with, who was going along with the plan we agreed on, and there were wheels in motion NEITHER OF US EVER EVEN KNEW ABOUT. MIL and FIL took the kids to lunch, and no one thought even to tell me about it or to ask me if there were other factors in play.

The other thing that is super annoying about it is that being nice to me should be a basic prerequisite for spending time with my kids. Sorry not sorry. Go through me. I am so frustrated.