You are the kind of mom that I was, involved, making play dates, etc. However, I remember one day when two little brothers showed up at my son's house. One was 8 and one was 9. My son introduced them. It seemed that they lived one block over from my home.

Well, being the thoughtful mother I was taught to be, I got their phone number, I called up their mother and I introduced myself. (see I always thought it was proper to introduce yourself to the parents of the kids who were spending time at your house. I was raised to believe this.

WELL!! you could have knocked me over with a feather when I got this response over the phone:

"Hello, my name is Melody, and your two sons are at my house and I thought I'd let you know where your children are, and that I would introduce myself (NOW IS THAT SO BAD???).


well, this woman said: "Oh, OKAY, NOW YOU MET ME, GOODBYE!!!!" And she banged down the phone. Seems I interrupted her.

I never in all my life expected this response.

So I gave everybody lunch and I decided to walk these boys home.

I walk up to their house with all three kids (my son and the two brothers), I see a man washing down his front porch. The kids looked petrified (like they did something wrong).

I said hi to the man, introduced myself and my son, and informed the man that we had all had a nice afternoon and I was returning their kids.

He looked at me like I was crazy and yelled at the kids and said "GET INSIDE", and the kids gave me a guilty look and scampered inside.

I saw them briefly after that. I believed they moved.

And if you think this is an isolated incident, well forget it. And this was almost 20 years ago, so I imagine things have gotten worse.

People work, people are busy, but remember one thing.

Someone has to be watching these kids over the summer. If the parents are working, they are either in camp, daycare, or have a grandma, or someone watching them.

Take an index card. Print what you wrote (it's just fine by the way), give all your contact information), email, phone, etc.

Then try and find out what the other kids are doing for the summer. Don't expect ANYTHING from any parent and you won't be disapointed.

About the english language difference?? Nothing you can do about that.

You can only do what you can do. Put it out there and if you get any bites, well, HOORAY!!! This might take some time.

But you just might find a little guy or gal who is being watched by a grandmother or aunt, and she might be delighted to have a playdate.

Oh, and I DO HAVE ONE NICE thing to say about a friend's mom.

My son was 7 and went to school. I would take him every morning and pick him up at 3 p.m.

He met a little boy named Sharif, same age. Sharif was on my front porch. I asked Sharif (who never talked more than a whisper by the way). Where do you live honey??" He lived at the end of my block.

I walked him back to his home, rang the bell (I was standing there with Sharif and my 7 year old son). This absolutely stunning woman comes to the door with a big smile.

I was so taken aback by the way she looked I stood there like a stupid idiot. (This is a true story, you can't make this stuff up).

I was just staring at her (she looked like Cleopatra with this long gown on). I said 'My god, you are absolutely beautiful). She burst out laughing and said "thank you".

I saw friendliness in her face, so I just went into my spiel about how her son was on my porch, blah blah blah and that I just wanted to meet the mom of my son's friend".

Well, she was so happy that someone took the time to do this, she invited me in. Turns out she was from Egypt, spoke Arabic AND FRENCH, so I was in heaven. She wore these Egyptian caftans (she gave me two).

She and I became friends. And she had 6 other children.

So every morning, I would walk Frank and Sharif and take them to school, and every afternoon, I would pick them up, stay in the playground with them and after one hour, take everybody home.

She became my friend and one day she showed up with some dish named KIBBE (sorry spelling). just to show her appreciation of how I cared for her son.

See, this kind of behavior, I found out, is QUITE UNUSUAL. I mean, we'd like to think we all should behave like this, but it doesn't turn out that way.

People are busy with busy lives and sometimes they dont' have time for their children.

Oh, this lovely egyptian woman had two more kids while she lived on my block. Her friendship meant the world to me.

Of course we moved, and my son, well let's just say, he dropped the friendship.

But friendships come and go. It happens.

You continue to be the mom you are, with the playdate invites, and the thank you's.

SOMEONE OUT THERE WILL REMEMBER YOU. I guarantee this.