I hung up the phone, starting to second guess this idea. 6:00 was awfully late to be meeting; bedtime is 7:30 after all…
As I pulled out of the driveway, I started wondering when that change happened. When did 6:00 start being “late” to go out?
Just what happened to the girl who used to go dancing until midnight or later? Whose boots actually touched the top of the bar once in a “Coyote Ugly was a great movie” kind of moment…
When did 6:00 become late to go out, and just how did I get stuck with a 7:30 curfew as an adult?
I was still pondering these questions when my cell phone rang. Her husband was running late, which meant she’d be meeting me a little later than we agreed upon.
Already at the restaurant, I called my husband. I guess I already knew I wouldn’t be home at the start of the bedtime routine, but now it was looking like he would be getting them asleep by himself. A first.
The fact that she’d be running late actually turned out to be a blessing. Knowing I’d never make it home in time to help get the kids asleep meant I was no longer checking the clock; the “curfew” disappeared.
Over drinks and dinner we did what girlfriends do best — talked about everything and anything. It wasn’t until the waitress stopped by and mentioned she would be leaving for the evening that we checked the time. 4 hours had flown by, and we agreed it was time we both headed home.
On the drive home I realized something. That girl that used to stay out past midnight isn’t really gone. Maturity and children may have changed her, but that’s okay. It’s better than okay. She still has that connection with her best friend that allows them to lose track of time for hours on end, and now she has 2 beautiful children she can’t wait to tuck in at night, and a wonderful husband who was waiting up. And she wouldn’t change that for the world.
Happy to be linked up at Lemon Drop Pie
