Paul has been in L.A. the last two nights and Mark, Sam  and Cheryl are at their mom’s so I am alone with my two girls, Eva and Sophia. This is a great opportunity for me to spend quality time with both of them together and with each of them alone. For years I was a single mom with my two little ones (who aren’t so little anymore) and I always enjoyed my time with them. 

We didn’t do anything really special besides talk. Sophia told me all about her trig class that she is so worried about. I took her out to practice driving. (She takes her test in a few weeks.)  I bought her a frozen yogurt and gave her a back rub. I took Eva to get new soccer shin guards, gave her a back rub too and both nights we all watched movies in my bed just like old times. Except they are much bigger and the three of us have a hard time fitting in my bed.

Most importantly, I checked in with Eva, who is my classic neglected middle child. She’s pretty easy going and hardly ever complains. Unlike Sophia, who wears her heart on her sleeve, she rarely tells you if something is bothering her. Never one to pitch fits over who gets the red sippy cup and who gets the blue sippy cup, she’s much more agreeable and compliant, and over time has gotten used to her sister stealing and demanding all  the attention.

I saw her taking some Advil for a headache so I offered to give her a massage. She was thrilled. She said it was so relaxing and made her headache go away.  I asked her if she was doing OK in school with her classes and her friends. She assured me all was fine. I told her if she has anything she needs or has something on her mind that she wants to talk to me about she can always come to me.  With that she asked me, “Can I get a new outfit for the Miley Cyrus concert?” So there you have it. The simple needs of an 8th grade girl. That may be all she is concerned about now, but I laid the foundation for future talks and that is what counts.