Making Amends for Dinner Out

Carla...I don't know where to begin. I guess I should start with an apology. You see, my daughter loves to talk to strangers. I have tried to stop her without success because, it turns out, that kids are their own little people and this whole parenting thing is just smoke and mirrors. I realize that you are young and don't have kids of your own, so, I'm sure it was quite a shock to see my daughter's little hand poke under the wall of the bathroom stall. A hand can be ignored, of course, and I recognize that it is much harder to ignore a child's interrogation. You seemed quite surprised but I appreciate the fact that you gave your name, explained what you were doing and then also explained how long you had been at the restaurant. I'm also really happy that you found humor in the argument I was having with my daughter about the appropriateness of removing one's shirt while sitting in a public bathroom. I also just wanted to say that I'm really sorry that she continued to scream, "CARLA! CARLA?" as you washed your hands and tried to make a quick exit. She really is harmless but I understand how unsettling a run-in with a rogue three year old can be. I would have gladly bought you a beer had I been able to find you in the restaurant. Instead, I bought one for myself because, well, I live with the little darling. Annika...I don't know where to begin. I guess I should start with an apology. You see, my daughter loves to talk to strangers. I have tried to stop her but, as a parent yourself, you must understand that those efforts are generally futile. So, I just wanted to say that I appreciated the fact that you cheerfully answered all of my daughter's questions while you sat on the "big girl potty". You accurately discerned that she would not be deterred by silence. I also wanted to thank you for expressing sympathy for me because I had been in that little stall three times already. I could tell by your laughter that you did not think ill of me as I begged and pleaded for this particular bathroom trip to end. A person without children might have thought me inpatient or unnecessarily sarcastic but not you...you laughed the knowing laugh of a parent. So, anyway, thanks and I hope that you had a nice evening and that your daughter doesn't embarrass you in a public place anytime soon.