When life gets complicated

My youngest son was invited to a birthday party last Saturday. We received a bit of a strange invitation as the venue for the party had not been decided on yet. We were asked to drop our boy off at birthday boy's house and then they were going to decide what would be happening. Cool - no problem with that.

When Saturday morning arrived our boy was very excited - with present under his arm he marched down the road to the party. It was a windy and rainy day. Hubby had to use the car to take big brother to tennis so the two little ones and I had to walk in the wind and rain but it wasn't far to walk.

To our surprise nobody was home so we waited a while (in the wind and rain) whilst I desperately tried to phone and sms birthday boys mother but there was no reply. Finally after standing in the wind (did I mention the rain?) for 20 minutes desperately banging on the front door......we received an sms. It turned out that we were at the wrong address. At the wrong address?!!!! I ask you - how can you invite people to a party and write the wrong address!

Mumbling and cursing under my breath I dragged my poor disappointed boy home (he was desperately trying to find reasons for why we should continue standing in the rain until the front door opened and somebody invited us in to the party).

By the time we got home (and several attempted phone calls later) I was ready to kill the b*t$%. How dare she waste my time like this and to top it off - break my little boys heart. I was going to rip her heart out and make her eat it for breakfast.

I received an sms to phone another number if any problems. Problems???!!!! Is this woman for real!

Nobody answered the new number either so I left a message firmly informing said moron individual that we had been standing in the rain at what had clearly turned out to be the wrong address.

A few minutes later birthday boy's dad phoned me. He wasn't sure what was going on but had to appologise as they are currently going through a divorce and things are a little unsettled. His ex-wife had arranged the party but he had instructions to take the boys swimming. She had obviously written the old address on the invite.

I suddenly felt embarrassed. Here I was throwing a little 'hissy fit', getting my knickers into a knot because I had to stand in the rain for 20 minutes while somebody else's life was in emotional turmoil and falling apart. It doesn't matter what the circumstances are - divorce is always painful.

Birthday boy's dad and I sorted everything out and I sat down to have a cup of coffee before we got ready to hit the road again. One little boy had a fabulous birthday party with all his friends, my little boy had a fabulous time with him and I was reminded that everybody has a story to tell.

The event brought flashbacks of my own divorce and I find myself deeply grateful that I don't have these kind of issues to face.

Reminder to self for future - don't sweat the small stuff!