Walt and I went out the other night and left Newt with a babysitter. I picked up my camera this afternoon and found a couple dozen of these:
This one has a bit of a Red Riding Wolf vibe.
I’m getting to kind of a fuzzy area with the whole babysitting thing. Newt is old enough, and more importantly, responsible enough to stay home alone. If there are errands to be run during the day, and she does not feel like tagging along, I have no problem letting her stay home. I’ve even occasionally left her for an hour or two in the evening when I’ve had a meeting and Walt was working late.
I know girls, only a year or so older than Newt, that are accepting babysitting jobs. So why do Walt and I still get a sitter when we go out?
Well, for one, an hour or two is not long enough for dinner and a movie. I’m not sure I’m ready to leave her alone for longer at night. And she would be alone. If she had siblings, even younger, I think I’d feel more comfortable. Not only is there the “safety in numbers” thing, but it just sort of seems less… lonely.
Hey Newt, Daddy and I are going to the movies. Maybe we’ll even get ice-cream. You can’t come. Bye.
At least with a sitter, she has a good time too. I have the evidence on my camera.
Any other parents of tween onlys out there? What do you do when you go out?
***
Saturday morning I got up and almost immediately saw a rare and beautiful site: a blank square on the calendar. None of us had to be anywhere. We decided to just go for a drive and see what adventures came up.
We began by stopping in on a 9-11 commemoration at Riverfront Park. There were flags for each of the victims of that day, as well as local police, firefighters and military personal that have lost their lives.
I won’t say that that was a “fun” event, but it felt good to be there and gave us an opportunity to continue talking with Newt about what happened that day, what has happened since and what it means to be a hero.
After, we continued our wandering. We stopped at a few garage sales, more to look-at than to look-for (one had a 6′ table completely piled high with vintage porn. It made me wonder about the grandmotherly looking proprietress.)
We stopped at several sales, but only bought one thing:
$8.00! I can’t wait to show you what I have planned for it. (oh and don’t let the grin fool you. I am far more excited about this project than Walt is.)
Our window purchase created a need to go to Home Depot for project supplies. On the way there we came a cross a a gun store that Walt has always been curious about. We had no other plans, so we stopped in.
I can’t decide if I find this picture kind of funny or kind of disturbing.
You?
We wrapped up the day with a trip to the drive-in movie theater. Newt wore her pjs and we packed blankets and snacks. I remember doing the same thing when I was her age, and seeing… wait for it… Rambo III. Yup – good clean family fun.
We saw Grease. I can’t say is was much more appropriate than Rambo. I had forgotten how much innuendo dirty it is. There’s nothing like seeing a movie with your ten year old to make you see things that might normally go unnoticed. Luckily, most of it went right over her head. The parts that didn’t made for some interesting conversation on the drive home…
Unplanned days are really fun. I’ll have to unplan another one soon.
***
Anyone know what time it is?
Time to announce the winners of my Labor Day Work Party!
Thrifty Texas Penny wins the book – Parenting A House United.
Amy wins the adorable little Dust Bunny.
Melissa R and Camille each win a scrubby.
Rebecca wins the duster.
And Tina S. wins the chore dice.
Congratulations to all the winners. Each has been contacted and has until tomorrow morning to contact me (or I’ll have to choose someone else. Don’t make me turn this car around, young lady!)
, by Ralph Moody. I can’t say enough about how good this book is. Maybe I should just tell you what Newt said about it, “It’s life changing. I learned so much from it. It has become a part of my heart.”
, which offered some great comparisons and contrasts. To Little Britches. Newt’s favorite part was when Almanzo’s father taught him that money is just a symbol for the work it takes to earn it. Then he gave Almazo fifty-cents and told him he could treat his friends to lemonade or use the money to buy a piglet, raise it and sell if for profit. Newt was glad he bought the pig, since she has been working with piglets on the farm.
. We like to listen to the audiobook versions in the car. Our favorites so far are 
, about a girl living in Valley Forge during the Revolutionary War and 
, a fictional 13 year old girl’s Oregon Trail diary.
