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Here’s the problem: You have too few kids in your life. If you had more of them around, you’d know better than to invite two parents to dinner without addressing the kid issue one way or another. It pays to be explicit in such an invitation, writing or saying something like: “It will be the eight of us on Saturday. I think you know the other couples.” Or, “It’s just the big people this time. No little ones.”

Of course, in this case one of the parents could have asked beforehand, “Just checking: Is it okay to bring the twins?” Still, I imagine they felt horrible when they saw a table set for eight adults. Or I hope they did. And, I trust that the parents apologized profusely in the moment and in their thank-you note, as well.

Finally, about that caper sauce: Please don’t blame the kids for not taking to that. I suggest keeping emergency provisions in your cupboard—like mac ‘n cheese—for the next set of freeloading toddlers.

 

COPYRIGHT 2010 STEVEN PETROW.   ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.