This weekend I had the dubious distinction of being The Parent Who Disappoints. It’s not a nice feeling, I tell ya. In fact, it’s downright awful. I feel like someone’s reached down into my throat and twisted my heart around when I see my five-year-old son standing in front of me with fat tears rolling down his cheeks because of something I’ve done. Or in this case, failed to do.
James was supposed to go to a birthday party on Saturday afternoon. The party was being held for a little girl who goes to school and daycare with him. She is a really, really lovely child with equally lovely parents. James was excited about going to the party, but the catch was that I would have had to stay at the party with him. He’s not ready to be left without either of his parents at an unfamiliar house (and frankly, I’m not ready for it either).
It’s not that I mind staying at these parties. In fact, I kind of enjoy sitting there chatting with the other parents while our kids run around and play.
On Saturday, though, I was sick. I was streaming with a cold, using up Kleenexes at the speed of sound, inhaling cough drops like they were Smarties, and feeling as if my head was about to explode. And by Saturday afternoon I had started developing pink-eye, and my eyes were oozing in a very unsavoury manner.
Would you have wanted me hanging out in a house full of moms and kids in that condition? Would you have even wanted me driving in that condition, with my eyes pretty much sealed shut with gunk?
Gerard was not able to go, because he had an appointment with a client at work.
Gerard’s mom, the only other possible candidate, was at a funeral.
It fell to me, in my sick, dreary state, to break the news to James that I would not be able to take him to the party. James was not angry, and he did not throw a tantrum. He just started weeping in a very, very sad way.
Now, in addition to being as sick as a dog, I felt like a piece of crap parent. I felt so sad for my little guy that I started to weep myself.
Just in case you were wondering: crying when you have pink-eye is not a good idea.
I apologized over and over to James. I explained to him the dual problems of putting everyone at risk of illness and not actually being fit to drive. Later, he assured me that he understood and that he didn’t hate me. But still. I felt horrible for disappointing my baby.
I asked him what I could do to make it up to him, and he said he’d like a birthday party of his own. This works for me – I have plans to throw him a party anyway – but his answer has prompted me to step it up a notch, to make a supreme effort to provide him with a special day. He wants to have his party at an indoor playground, and he wants a Lightning McQueen cake. I’ll provide him with a Lightning McQueen cake if I have to go all the way to Radiator Springs to get it.
James misses out on a lot. It must be tough for him, being the brother of a child with autism, and the son of a Mom who gets sick at just the wrong time.
The least I can do is give him a day that he can call his own, where he will be the centre of attention.
