Tables Turned

When I was in junior high and high school, I managed to keep myself in subway tokens and Chicken McNuggets by babysitting, usually every weekend and frequent weeknights. Being the lame dork that I was, I naturally didn't date, and most of my friends were babysitting too. We'd call each other up after the kids were in bed, and, well, talk about what lame dorks we were. It was all right, though, because a) I made money and b) other people have new and exciting foodstuffs, books, catalogues and magazines.

Well, now I'm a parent, and the shoe is on the other foot. Our mostly-regular babysitter is great, and usually available, although not this weekend. And we'd like to hit a friend's party tomorrow night. And we have no babysitter. And I've called four other people. And I'm starting to feel like a real parent. I don't guess I ever really thought about being on the opposite side of things when I was babysitting, but maybe unconciously I hoped karma would be good to me.

The good news is that we could bring Bean with us to the party if we really need to...but darn it, sometimes it's nice to be adults without being parents. Twenty-four hours and counting. Keep your fingers crossed.