6 Friday, December 2, 2022 brooklintowncrier.com When I was a teen, my friend Francine's house was where we were always hanging out. Her mom and dad always smiled when you walked in the door. And, while their house wasn't huge or fancy, it felt safe and comfortable. There was always KoolAid in the fridge and her mom often made us cookies. When I once had a huge fight with my mom and ran away from home for two hours, Francine's was the place I ran to. Later as an adult, I found out that Francine loved that she and her brother could always have friends over. It's the reason for some of their best memories. She and I recently joked about her dad and his obsession with washing his car. I clearly remember wheeling my bike up their driveway while her dad was out there in his neon shorts, cigarette dangling from his mouth, buffing the hood. Music would be playing and he would "sing" a greeting by putting my name in the song. Yes as a teen, it was cheesy. But today, it's pure gold. Friends over These days, my husband and I have let our daughter know her friends are always welcome, unless one of us is sick or working. Over the years, I've seen many come by. It could be half a dozen The Hangout House Brooklin Family Matters: by Leanne Brown hockey players, or just her besties. Seeing her surrounded by her pack is a joy. Sometimes it's very loud during air hockey game battles and sometimes it seems the ceiling may fall as the girls dance in unison to a video game. I asked why she liked to always have her friends over. She glanced up from her phone and said, "We like it here." That's important to me because as she heads into high school next year, I'm sure she'll seek more independence. When those independent adventures get scary, she knows home is a safe place. Help with problems It's already proven to be one for a few of them. Occasionally, she and a friend have asked me to help them decipher a problem. Mostly they just bounce their frustrations or ideas off me. I'm the sounding board. I know though that if a real problem comes up at some point, she will hopefully come to me. The thing is, we don't have the ultimate kid hangout house. There's no pool or fancy basement to attract them. Instead, we have a big couch in the family room and a small comfortable shaded patio in the summer. Sure the girls can be messy. Shoes are always piled in the doorway. Cups fill my sink. Footprints cover the floors. But the house is filled with laughter. And when the pack goes home, the childhood memories have been cemented. Yes, we've become the hangout house. www.rhaverylandscaping.com DREAM / CREATE / ENJOY