Overheard

The other day we were at a friend's house for lunch. The girls were all happily munching their sandwiches. They were hanging out just around the corner from the spot where I happened to be sitting, and I could overhear their conversation clearly. It went something like this:

Friend: I love your mom. She is so pretty, and nice, and fun.

Daughter: Really? Yeah, she is. She is pretty awesome.

Friend: She is always happy and she, like, never gets upset. I love your mom.

At this point I am feeling pretty good about myself.

Daughter: ((Silence))

Uh oh.

Friend: I wish my mom was more like your mom. She's always nagging at us do stuff like clear the table and finish our homework.

Not liking the direction this is headed.

Daughter: Your mom is awfully nice too, you know. I don't really ever see her get upset, either. My mom is pretty great, and all, but she isn't as nice as you think she is when company isn't around. She acts different. When we don't have friends over she gets mad at us too.

Friend: Yeah, I guess you're right. My mom's pretty great when my friends are around, too.

What! Where did that come from? Do I really put on a show when we have other kids over?! Of course I do.

They totally have me pegged. When we had some friends over the other day and an entire pitcher of lemonade got knocked onto the floor I was gracious and understanding. I cleaned the spill briskly, all the while making conversation and laughing and smiling.

If that had happened and it had just been our family it would have gone something like this, "Doggone it!!! How did this happen? If you need help you need to ask! That pitcher was full! Do you know how hard it is to clean up lemonade?! It is sticky! I am going to have to clean this twice to get all of the stickiness up! And I just cleaned this floor two days ago!! Ack! It's all over the cabinets too! Blah blah blah blah blah!"

I hate that they can see through me so easily. I hate that my patience isn't more bountiful. Serves me right for eavesdropping in the first place.