I used to judge my friends for being late. Especially to hangouts. In my mind, being on time was a sign of respect. If you cared, you showed up when you said you would. Because you wouldn’t show up late to work, so why show up late to a social outing.
Now that I have a kid, I completely understand how a parent can be late to just about anything. Getting out the door is no longer a linear process. Especially when it comes to a baby – and having to make sure they are well fed and well rested.
That doesn’t excuse childless adults who are late though. I will still judge them freely.
But today was different. Today I got to catch up with some high school friends. It was also the first time I’ve taken Kai out alone without Katherine. That alone felt like small milestone. Luckily, he was on his best behavior. I think the key is timing. I picked him up right after work, made sure he was nourished, and the hangout went mostly unhitched.
Sitting there with Kai, I couldn’t help but notice how differently our lives have shaped since high school. Some of us are already seasoned parents (Theresa). Some, like me, are just beginning. Others are still undecided and figuring it out.
In high school we were all pretty much in the same stage of our life, and now things have completely changed. And yet it was nice to catch up and recognize our personalities haven’t changed dramatically. We’re all the same people, just as adults now with many responsibilities.
