Again, I am not the fun parent--I am the one that keeps everyone fed, clothed (in clean clothes) and soothed in the middle of the night.

Laurel's last day of school was on a Wednesday.  She didn't start camp until the following Monday.  We had two vacant days and I immediately labeled them, "Laurel and Mom's Two Days of Fun!  (Fun!)".  With practicality aside that either Ching or me had to stay home with her, I wanted to focus on the potential of fun. Again, I am not the fun parent--I am the one that keeps everyone fed, clothed (in clean clothes) and soothed in the middle of the night.  Over the past few months of having at least one kid with me as I run some errands trying to pass it off as fun, I started feeling like a turd about it.  I can be fun!

So I told Laurel that the next two days were ours and we could do fun things.  I built it up so much that I even thought of getting T-shirts made...but I never pulled the trigger.  Thankfully Laurel never brought it up so I let it slide.

The first event was going to Target--this is an errand but it was an errand that just involved picking things up for her upcoming summer camp.  She didn't need much as we followed a list that she made.  The funny thing to me was that I was standing there with a willing Amex saying, "Is there anything else that you need?"  Nope..she had her two new beach towels, flip flops, spray sunblock, water bottle---she was all set.  She clearly is not at the age to take advantage of the willing Amex.  I tried to wallow in that moment since the clock is ticking down to me being used for my credit line.

The next was a rite of passage--she wanted to get her ears pierced.  She mentioned getting her ears pierced several weeks ago and as I was thinking about it, she had that accident on the playground.  (June 6-If Laurel and Rachel were Larry and Ralph, I would ask Ching to deal with this) I decided if she could go through that, she could get her ears pierced.  In the mall we are currently in, there was a place where you could get tattoos and all body piercings right next to your family friendly Old Country Buffet.  I have heard excellent things about this place but I just couldn't justify bringing her to a place where appendages other than lobes were pierced.  We went to Claire's across the street at another mall.  Laurel was very brave and prepared---she watched a You Tube video of another 7 year old getting her ears done.  I tried not to focus on the fact that Laurel was getting older as she was so brave and beautiful.  What I was focusing on was the price.  When I got my ears pierced, it was $8.  Granted this was in 1984.  Now, it's $55!  The piercing with cleansing solution is free--the earrings range from $40-55 and of course, they do recommend gold because they heal faster.  I  feel like a complete asshole wanting to put something cheaper in her ear but alas, we pick plain yellow gold balls.  (I did have a minor win--I did not allow Hello Kitty studs--thankfully those were a cheap stainless steel.)

So with ears pierced, we were off to our next adventure albeit a small one.  Laurel had a book gift certificate to a small store and she wanted to get the latest Diary of the Wimpy Kid.  I am trying to get Laurel to do things on her own like small purchases, ordering at a restaurant, etc.  She gets to the counter and kind of looks at the cashier like she was going to read Laurel's mind.  (Jesus Laurel...Come on!) I had to initiate the process...small steps.

We were then on our way to Plaster Fun Time.  (I failed to mentioned that the weather during these two days absolutely stunk--rainy.)  Initially we were going to get four plaster letters, paint them fun colors and hang the word on her bedroom wall.  But we decided that we would just paint a small butterfly jewelry box for any future earrings.  I was in charge of the bottom of the box and Laurel got to paint the butterfly--if I didn't tell you this, you would be able to tell by the vast array of color choices.  I used only four colors while Laurel used about 14 to make the most schizophrenic butterfly ever.  Laurel tends to be this way while painting....to this day, I still have pink faced, blue haired Diego on my dresser.  (Mother's Day 2009).

By this time, she was hungry and, oh what luck, McDonald's is across the street.  While I could complain that I am still working off that meal at the gym, I will not.  I was just so pleased that we just chatted...there was no request to look at my phone.  Yay!

We then went to get pedicures.  I opened this Pandora's Box over a year ago and I am not sure if I should regret doing that.  I don't want to think this is a regular occurrence because it certainly isn't with me.  I tend to have a hard time relaxing because as I am watching her reading her book and being pampered, I am also wondering if she should be here, if she is paying attention to the nice lady digging at her toes and wondering if any other patron is looking at me like a sucker.

We checked out her art that is on display for the summer at the Newton Education Center.  I was very proud...perhaps I should shut the hell up about her paint color usage.

Our next idea is to go home and watch a movie and then perhaps catch the sequel in the theater tomorrow.  This didn't go so well.  The movie was Monsters, Inc. which would make the sequel, Monsters University.  Laurel wasn't afraid of the monsters.  She loved the intro of all the main characters but she gets very agitated when conflict arises which just happens to be the story.  So we turned it off and watched Gravity Falls.  I actually used it as an opportunity to rest my eyes.  This was Day #1.

The next day, Laurel wanted to watch a movie, one that didn't bother her.  So we watched Charlotte's Web and ate donuts.  It was nice and cozy.  Also, it helped that while Julia Roberts was in the movie, it was just her voice.  A couple of decades ago, she seemed cool.  Now she just bugs the piss out of me.

I could tell Laurel was getting bored with me.  I tried to woo her with McDonald's again.  She took the McD's but decided that she wanted to go over to friend's house.  After a day and a half, she dumped me.

I had the afternoon to myself and my Amex appreciated the rest.  While we didn't make it the whole two days, we had a very good day and a half and I am totally fine with that.