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Community Corner

Connecting at the Neighborhood Cup

Special time between a mother and daughter.

Are the kids doing well in school?  Yes. 

Are the kids eating healthy meals?  Yes. 

Are the kids getting plenty of sleep?  Yes. 

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Has my 8-year-old daughter become moody?  Yes.  Wait ... what? 

Just when I thought I had the Mother of the Year award in the bag, my daughter proved otherwise.  My once sweet and mellow little girl had spent the last month taking me on an emotional roller-coaster.  One moment she was smiling, and the next she was crying because she had a hole in her tights.  The slammed doors, the eye-rolling, the shouts of, “I know, I know!” had been unreal.  Since most of the drama has been directed at me, I knew something was going on with our mother/daughter relationship.

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I came to the conclusion that a date with my daughter was the best way to figure out what was really going on with her.  in Aliso Viejo has been a favorite of ours for quite some time.  I knew that with its big cozy couches to relax on and some delicious grilled cheese sandwiches, our mommy and daughter time would be perfect.

As we waited for our lunch, we had fun looking at paintings by local artists.  My daughter even shared with me that she would love to try and paint something on canvas someday.  I asked her about school and what she liked to play at recess.  She asked me if she could plan a sleepover.  We then sat in silence … holding hands.  Pure heaven!  And then it hit me.  There was a peaceful silence between the two of us because my 4-year-old son was not with us.  My daughter did not have to compete for my attention.  I wasn’t driving my daughter crazy (or her, me); she just missed me.  And I definitely missed her. 

When our lunch arrived, we both smiled.  There is nothing like a grilled cheese sandwich with melted cheese seeping out between toasted bread slices. And the side of cut-up fruit was fresh and tasty. 

After a delicious lunch, we strolled through the Aliso Viejo library to look for the next book in a series my daughter was reading.  It was a great way to end our special date. 

And guess what?  My daughter’s mood has improved since we spent time together.  Of course, I am expecting some days to be filled with drama—after all, my daughter is 8 years old. I don’t even want to start thinking what her teen years will be like!   All I know is that I will definitely be making some more time for mommy and daughter dates.  

If you are looking for a place to relax with your special someone, I definitely recommend the Neighborhood Cup.  Its weekend hours are Saturday from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Also, make sure to check its website for its calendar of events.

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