Is This How It’s Going to Be?

#4 went to a birthday party today.  It’s all I’ve heard about for 2 weeks, the neighbor girl’s birthday party.  It was the light at the end of the tunnel last week for her.  “Just get through this week and then the birthday party.”  (Birthday party needs glitter there.  I don’t know how to do that.  Can you imagine it?  Thanks.)

It was horrible.

I totally blame the mom.

It’s not her fault. (According to my much more sane husband.)

I blame her anyway.

I went over before it started and explained the arthritis issue.  I don’t know her well, but she was friendly and reassuring.  It was a spa day party.  The girls were getting manicures and making funky hair accessories.  #4’s physical limitations were not going to be a problem.  She was not going to go to a party and be ARTHRITIS GIRL!

And then she was.

 she was……

The party guests decided to take an unexpected detour to the trampoline.  “What could I do?” My neighbor shrugged.  “They were all having such a good time.  But #4 seemed a bit upset by it, so I let her stay afterwards to play for a bit because I think she felt a bit left out.”

Ummmm…you think she felt left out?  I can pretty much guarantee that she felt left out, because she came home, curled up in my arms on the couch, and sobbed about the fact that her friend and her friend’s friends completely ignored her while they laughed and jumped on the trampoline…..and she thinks she felt left out?  Yeah, mom, she did.  Good call.

My much saner husband pointed out to me that a group of 7 and 8 year old girls are very likely to look in the backyard and see a