Saturday, April 28, 2007

You Can't Fool Me

A couple years ago, my younger sister Kim and I took our kids on a road trip from Utah to California. We had started out later than planned, and ended up pulling the Yukon over around 1 AM to sleep at a hotel in Nevada for a few hours, before continuing on at sun up.

In an attempt to save money, we decided to share a room at the hotel. However, with Kim and her three kids, as well as me and my three children, we knew most hotels would frown at eight people in one room. So we devised a not-so-subtle plan. I would check-in with the boys and the luggage, and Kim would enter a few minutes later with no bags, just the girls, and we would all meet at the room.

For the most part, things went according to plan. I registered at the front desk and then proceeded through the lobby up to the room with S2, Kim's two boys, and all our bags. I called Kim on her cell phone and told her our room number, and she delayed a few minutes by the car before proceeding through the lobby empty handed with D1 and D2 as well as her own daughter.

We were careful not to let on to the children about the plan, because we did not want them to think we were being dishonest. And we thought we had been discreet with our sneaky plot. But D1 who was ten at the time, was too smart for us and sensed something was up. As she walked through the smoke filled lobby adjacent to a casino, she realized, "I know why you and my mom don't want anyone to see us go to the hotel room all together. Kim grimmaced, knowing we were going to have to explain our dishonesty, but replied innocently, "Hmmm? What?" D1 nodded, "Yeah, you're afraid if we all go up together everyone will think you guys are gay."

12 comments:

  1. Ouch. Just when you think it can't get worse...

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  2. I am laughing out loud! The thought of D1 being aware that someone might consider you and Kim a gay couple with six kids. Very funny!

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  3. So which is easier to explain...

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  4. Eve,
    I agree. Which is why a very wise perso once said, "Honesty is the ebst policy." But I'm too stubborn to believe that.

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  5. Michelle,
    I know. How many gay partners have six kids. Probably, oh I'd say...none! It makes me very worried about what other thoughts are floating up in D1's mind.

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  6. Supermom,
    Precisely. And so I found myself clumsily explaining both, when an honest initial approach would have avoided the entire situation.

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  7. Hi Deborah,

    And your reply was .....??!!!!

    Cheers

    David

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  8. David,
    After we stopped laughing? We told her to go to sleep, becuase we were exhausted, of course!

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  9. Oh, the spots our kids put us in! I have several comments I want to make, but common sense and a scrap of dignity prevails.. let's just say, I truly empathise!

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  10. Shrink Wrapped,
    Common sense and dignity have no place on thsis blog. Comments, please!

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  11. Julie,
    D1 is often too something. I'll take too funny over too preteen moody any day.

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