Mommy and Me

Tonight Grace and I went on a Mommy/Daughter date. I know, usually they are Daddy/Daughter dates but why should men get all the fun? One family I know always has the dad take the kids out for dates and someone asked him if his wife ever got to take them out and the man just looked confused and said "Why would she do that?" I have a strange feminist streak and when I heard this I decided I would take all my children on mommy dates. Of course I want Neil to take them on daddy dates as well :) The streak surfaces at odd moments. For example if someone tells me to sew on a button or after I gave birth and gave Grace my name as her middle name (I must confess Neil had the idea in the first place) and then of course if one of my brothers says, "Woman. Make me a sandwich." Why should all my "quality time" with my children involve folding laundry and cooking meals. Luckily, Neil is all about loving and supporting his womenfolk so today Grace and I had our first Mommy/Daughter date. On our way home from babysitting Grace and I got some fabulous cuisine (McDonald's) and relaxed on the drive home to the tender soothing strains of "Its a small world after all" (Baby G's favorite). There was excellent conversation and Grace ended the evening by downing two pieces of bologna, a pear, and some green beans in addition to her fries and chicken nuggets! Is it me or does that seem like a lot for an eleven month old? I also made the mistake of letting her try chocolate cake the other day. I should have filmed it, because after one bite she let out a hearty chuckle and dove in. Now if she spots chocolate she will not rest until she gets a piece of it. Hence the demise of my Valentines Day chocolates- oh the sacrifices of motherhood!