Clueless Dads

This past weekend, i arranged a “lunch playdate” with a family that moved to another school. My daughter and Bee were in the second grade together but now every Saturday morning.

Each Saturday after class, they bombard us “can we have a playdate NOW?” Of course, inevitably both parents say no because we have something to do.

Finally, we both had a break in our schedules and decided “let’s go for it” even if they only get to have lunch together. As I walked in to pick up my daughter, she and the little girl, Bee, ran up to me jumping up and down excited about their lunch date.

Alas, nothing is that simple in the world of kids. Next thing you know, they are asking if this other girl can come on their playdate. Now anyone who has reached the third grade knows that three’s company on a playdate. It never turns out well, there is always some type of jealousy or disagreement, two girls gang up on the other one minute and the table turn around five minutes later. i have learned my lesson of the years. NO MORE PLAYDATES WITH THREE GIRLS!!!

Of course, I had to say “No, not this time, we made arrangements with Bee’s mom and she’s not here, Sorry.” Now the Dad, I will call him a**hole Dad because he was not clueless Dad. Note that at first I thought he was clueless but later realized he is like the Veruca Salt’s Dad in Willa Wonka, he will give in to his daughter’s whim to avoid confrontation and a temper tantrum.

Any self respecting parent with half a brain, would say next time and keep it moving but no, a**hole dad, let me stand there for five minutes saying how sorry I am to this little girl who was literally stood there with her big brown eyes tearing up that she could not go on this lunch playdate. You know the stare, where she was willing me to say yes.

And he said nothing to the girl, the entire time I was apologizing to her except “really.” He really expected me to invite her. Talk about passive aggressive. UGH!!

Finally, the little girl walked away, crying and poor little Bee ran after her to say she was sorry and the girl pushed her away.

And not that I would have invited them but lucky I didn’t because Bee’s mom was “oh thank you, it would have bee a disaster.” And on top of it, she reminded me about Bee’s birthday party where the little girl cried for twenty minutes because Bee did not want to go skating with her. I distinctly remember all the parents asking why she was crying and rolling their eyes like how long is this going to go one for.

And that’s not all, I found out they are vegetarians (nothing is wrong with that by the way) but I have a feeling there would have been another meltdown as the girls ate their meat sandwiches, soda and cookies at Subway.

I seriously don’t get it why anyone would not separate their child from a situation that is going to escalate into a meltdown. During the entire encounter, I want to pull the dad aside and tell him to leave before it gets’ worse but really I think he thought I was going to invite him.

Note to self: Avoid family at all costs.