Table For One

I got stood up for dinner last night.

Maybe not technically stood up, but pretty close.

I did begin dinner alone. Not because I was actually alone, but because I don’t like eating cold food and I don’t like waiting on people who ignore me when I tell them dinner is ready.

That’s kind of a pet peeve of mine. If all you have to do is wait while someone cooks for you and then just show up when it’s ready – then the least you can do is show up. I don’t know why, it just burns me up to spend time cooking for someone only to discover they can’t pull themselves away from whatever they are doing to come eat it. Believe me, I would love to be vegging too, but instead I’m in here cooking for you. And after that, I get the honor of cleaning up too.

And really, I don’t mind doing those things. They have to be done and I’m happy to do it. But if you can’t extend me the courtesy of acting like you appreciate it enough to come to the table then it kinda starts to feel like servitude.

So I tell everyone dinner is ready. No one moves a muscle. I tell them again. Ignored. I say it one last time. Nothing.

And that was that. There is no use in nagging – besides making you look grouchy, it’s pretty ineffective. So I try hard not to do it.

Besides, if they wanted to wait and eat cold food and not join me for dinner, that was their choice.

So I sat down, said the prayer and started my dinner. That was my choice.

And actually, it was one of the nicest meals I’ve had in a while. It was quiet, I didn’t have to get up and get anything, and I didn’t have to spend the entire time trying to convince anyone to eat their vegetables.

I was close to a third way through when the rest of the family came in. The first thing M says is a shocked “Mommy, you’re eating without us!” to which I responded “Yes, I am.”

I think there would be more happy wives and mothers in the world if women would realize that you don’t have to give up the things you want or force others to want those things too. Just do your thing and be happy.

The others will make it to the table. Eventually.