I did it.
I invited Ari’s friend from school over to my house.
But wait! That’s the end of the story.
It began like this:
On Friday, we were leaving school.
Ari had been telling me he wanted to have a play date with a girl from his class. I saw the girl’s babysitter, who speaks another language. I wrote the babysitter a note that said:

“Hi Little Girl’s Mom,
This is Sarah, Ari’s mom.
Would you like to come over for a play date at our house?
Here’s my number –-****!”

The babysitter smiled politely and took the note.
“I gave a note to your babysitter asking your mommy if you would like to come over to our house!” I said to Ari’s friend. “Do you wanna have a play date at our house?” I asked her.

“Yes!” She exclaimed.
Little Girl and Ari laughed and jumped up and down together.

I got a text message the next day:
Hi Sarah,
This is Little Girl’s Mom! We would love to come over for a play date. We’re busy today, but how about tomorrow?

I sent her a message back.

Sure! Sounds great!

Then it occurred to me that my house was dirty.
 I had a panic attack.
“What are we going to do?!” I moaned to Wil. “Little Girl and her parents are coming over tomorrow and the house is so dirty.”
“Don’t worry babe!” Wil said “I’ll clean.”
Wil cleaned the living room and the kitchen, and I cleaned the bathroom.
“They can’t come over! Look at the kid’s room!” I exclaimed.
The kid’s room was a mess. I panicked. Little Girl and her family would think we were slobs! But it was overwhelming! There was so much to clean!

I picked up a toy police truck and put it in the blue fabric bin.
I picked up a green polka dot ball and put in a container.
The more things I picked up, the easier it became, and all of a sudden I was cleaning.
“Ari, pick up all the cards from the floor.”
“I don’t want to!”
“Do you want Little Girl to come over tomorrow?”
“Yes!”
“Then you have to clean up!”

I kept reminding Ari that his friend was coming over every time he got distracted and (for the most part) he helped me clean. Meanwhile, Samara loomed in the background, took toys out of their bins and threw them on the floor. Thankfully, Ari ran after her  saying “No Samara,” confiscated the toys and put them back where they belonged.

The house was clean! I couldn’t believe it.
As I was falling asleep that night I thought What are they going to eat?! I thought and thought and then it came to me. Bagels! Everyone likes bagels right?

So first thing in the morning, I hurried the kids into their clothes and out the door. I zoomed the double stroller out the door and into the Bagel store. I got a dozen bagels and cream cheese. We back home with the bagels so I could start a pot of coffee.

Little Girl and her parents arrived. I was relieved. The house looked reasonably clean (and not like a bomb hit it) and there was food to eat!

The kids had a fun play date and I got to have actual adult conversation.

The most important part of this day for me were the events leading up to it. I was anxious about having people come over to my house and see it for the first time. But I pushed through that anxiety, and I took the steps to make a play date happen for my kid.