A Mother's Dilema

Harriette (foulest child on earth at present - well in my presence anyway, she gets on fine with her father!) has just gone to school for a readathon (overnight stay in the library) with her class. 3 weeks ago she dug out the sleeping mat and bag and they have been kicking around her bedroom floor, along with every other possession she has, since. Today she announces that she needs to go to the library before (apparently it's open until 7pm, I didn't know that!). Why she needs to go to the town library when she is sleeping in the school one overnight I don't know. Now this child takes almost nothing for lunch these days and thinks I'm going to let her out for the night with no supper! We compromise and she has some cheese and biscuits instead of the thai curry (mainly because I can't bare the thought of eating with her glaring at evryone across the table). So we go off to school. Harriette has a plastic carrier bag with a few books, paracetamol (she had her 3rd MeNZB jab today) and some lollies (sorry sweets) in and that's it. 'Harriette' I say, 'you are staying overnight. Where's your overnight bag?' Big strop. 'I'm fine in this' (shrugs meaning a t shirt and 3/4 pants (it's about minus 3 degrees at night at the moment). I insist she takes a fleece (another strop). Anyway we load up, go to the library (have you got your card - no!, manages to wangle 10 books out anyway!) then go off to the school. Parents decanting children all over the place, children with... overnight bags, pillows, sleeping bags etc. 'Harriette, where's your sleeping bag' 'Oh, I forgot it - I'll be fine'!!!!!! AAARRRGGGGGG!!!!!!!!

So my dilema. Do I come home (14km each way) and get stuff or do I let her suffer? We've been here before haven't we (Feb-ish, school camp). Anyway I have opted for suffering. Problem is it'll be me. She'll find some mug who'll give up their spare blanket and I'll be fretting all night she's going to suffer hypothermia. Still she's 12 on Sunday only 6 years to go! Trouble is, with the concert last night, readathon tonight, rugby at The Scott's tomorrow she'll be even more foul on Sunday and the birthday will be spent feeling guilty for yelling at her because she will be mega-stroppy and I will loose my temper. Roll on Monday.

PS Eric, Alice and I played scrabble and pigged out on chocolate - in peace!

PPS I do love both my daughters passionately -honest!