That Mom

Steve texted me at work today, wondering if an 8:00 MLS game on a school night would be too late for Sara.  I responded by asking which school night he was referring to, and it turns out the night was tonight.  A friend at work had given him two free tickets.  And while the rational part of my brain was thinking, yes, that is way too late ... and factor in drive time and the early morning tomorrow ..., I put myself in my daughter's shoes, and told Steve, "She'd love it."

So tonight I'm that mom.  The one who let her six-year-old go to a sporting event that started too late and will end way too late. The one who wrote in her agenda for her teacher to see in the morning, "Sara had a late night and will probably be tired on Thursday ... sorry!"  As an educator, I've done my fair share of eye-rolling at that mom, the one who doesn't follow the rules to a T. The one who is willing to potentially sacrifice having a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed little one at school for the sake a fun night out. 

As that mom, I know I'll be dealing with an over-tired kid for the next couple of days.  But I also know that someday, she won't remember being tired at school one random Thursday.  She will, however, remember her night out - on a school night - with her dad, cheering on their favorite soccer team. 

Sara is a good kid who usually finds herself conceding to her sister, so even if it makes me that mom, I'd argue that her surprise, spur-of-the-moment night at the game has been earned.  And there are worse things that being that mom, right?  Well, even if there aren't, tonight I don't care.