Sunday, January 18, 2009

I'm Not Sure How To Feel

I'm having a bit of a mental dilemma here, folks.

You see, Jock's girlfriend came over Saturday night to spend the evening with our family. It's only fair, seeing as he's spent the previous two weekends at her house. I was actually pretty stoked about this when he asked, since that told me that he's not as embarrassed of us as I thought he might have been. I mean, we can't compete with her house. She's got a movie room, a game room, and movies and games actually for use in those rooms. Us? Well, we've got a family room with a TV in it that we all have to watch together. It does have a game system on it, but that doubles as our DVD player. Family nights either need to be movie nights OR game nights. So, yeah. When he asked if she could come to our house, I was happy about it.

I got a lot out of that deal, too. Jock cleaned his room. Really cleaned his room. He dusted. He vacuumed. He put sheets on the bed. Even though he was reminded that there was no way on God's green earth that they would be allowed to hang out in his room. (To which he replied: Duh, Mom. But I can still show her.)

Coach cleaned the rest of the house. He pulled out the stove and cleaned all around and behind it. (I'm still not really sure why. It wasn't like The Girlfriend was going to be moving our appliances. But, whatever. I got a clean stove out of it.) He rearranged the furniture. He spot cleaned the carpet. And? He had thawed a turkey out the day before and planned a killer meal. He was going to do that turkey on the grill. (Have I mentioned that Coach is a truly skilled Grill Master? Oh yeah, baby. Heaven.)

And this is where I came in. And I'm still not sure if that was good or bad.

That turkey? Turns out it was going to take a lot longer than Coach had planned. So we needed an alternative dinner menu. Pronto. Here's how that conversation went:

Me: (to The Girlfriend) So kiddo, how do you feel about tuna casserole?
The Girlfriend: I've never had tuna casserole before.

::complete silence....so complete if there were crickets you wouldn't have heard them::

Me: Well, it has tuna. It has pasta. It has cheese. Not a lot to a tuna casserole.
The Girlfriend: Well, I like tuna. I like pasta. So it sounds fine.

Ok, really? She had never had tuna casserole before? Let me understand this. She has a movie room. She has a game room. She's never had tuna casserole before. Why the heck is my son even still living with me????

Turns out, she actually like the tuna casserole. Which is good, because that was what I made. It was also somewhat funny. When I had asked Jock earlier what he thought we should have for dinner, he had actually suggested tuna casserole. So it worked out well for everyone. I think.

But here's my dilemma. Should I be happy that I've managed to expose my son's girlfriend to a new experience, and shared with her something that he actually likes? Or should I be embarrassed that we had to resort to tuna casserole for her first dinner with us?

On the other hand, when that turkey finally DID get finished? It was FABULOUS.

12 comments:

Flea said...

Tuna casserole is a perfectly respectable company dinner. I don't think my kids have ever had it, though. Our tuna never makes it that far. It disappears in sandwiches as soon as I get it home.

Even tuna sandwiches make good company food if you serve it on a big French loaf with fresh lettuce, tomatoes and cheese. And dill and garlic powder. Mmmm. Ooo - I know what we're having for dinner tonight.

Anonymous said...

I think it's great that you had her over for dinner and it didn't matter what you made....it's the fact that you seemed to make her feel welcome in your home and with your family!

I grew up eating tuna casserole and loved it. In fact, my mom used to always make it on Friday during Lent like a good Catholic.
I tried to do that in my family and it completely bombed....my husband and two youngest HATE canned tuna! I was crushed :(

My oldest son and I do like it, so I will cook it occasionally when my hubby is out of town and feed the younger boys something else.

Mmmm....I could go for some right now!

Burgh Baby said...

I'm a little jealous of the kid. I mean, a child hood devoid of tuna casserole? Sounds HEAVENLY.

Karen said...

When I was little, tuna was something we never had. My family doesn't like tuna. So people who ate tuna were the "uppity" ones. See? It's all in perspective.

And the hubby cleaned for the girlfriend? Total score.

Wonderful World of Weiners said...

I woudld have died if John's parents tried to serve me tuna casserole the first time I ate over. But not because I wouldnt eat it but becasue John is tuna phobic!!

I don't really think it matters WHAT you had and I suspect, unless she was allergic to it, she would have happily eaten it.

What matters is that you welcomed her with open arms...and a kick ass clean house!! :)

Will Coach come over and clean behind my stove?

Hallie

*~*Cece*~* said...

She came to a clean house & got dinner, that should've made anyone happy! lol

P.S. I've never had a tuna casserole either, the thought of warm tuna doesn't sit well in my stomach's mind. It could be b/c I'm just not a big fish fan and can barely stomach tuna sandwiches so don't listen to me. lol

Kidzmama said...

It's not about the tuna at all, is it?

When I was growing up my very good friend, whose house I was always at, lived in a HUGE home. Five bedrooms, each with it's own bathroom, a TV room, rec. room, and they even had two, two kitchens! Me? I lived in the top apartment of a duplex. Two bedrooms, one bath, one dining room, one living room, and one kitchen. That's it.

She ate tuna at my house too.

Hey it's Amy Benson said...

I'm just cracking up that son & coach were cleaning! Yay you! Must be doing something right:D

Aimee said...

I've never had tuna casserole either. lol but if she liked it, I think you're good. :)
that reminds me - I have a turkey in the freezer.

Indy said...

I love tuna noodle casserole and even talked to my dad about it tonight. Since your son suggested it, it was fine. It may become her new favorite.

TisforTonya said...

never had Tuna Casserole? I didn't know it was possible to grow up without that experience!

Unknown said...

I'm not sure how to feel either, but what I do know is that now I need your salsa recipe AND your tuna casserole recipe. That post just made me hungry!