It’s just another Monday. My husband has returned to work after a nearly-week-long vacation. The mercury has dipped below temperatures that I consider appropriate and we (mom, kid, dogs and cat) are all snuggled up inside staying warm.
I enjoy Mondays as a stay-at-home mom. They are usually non-eventful. Business as usual includes picking up the clutter after my husband’s much-deserved slothful Sunday football binge, removing sticky handprints from surfaces and setting out something to thaw for dinner.
So terribly exciting, I know. But I enjoy the peace the routine brings. I know these years at home are finite and that one day I’ll rejoin the rat race and be up and at ‘em and in the car with the rest of the commuters. So I savor each second of domestic bliss that time affords me.
Most days I think my kid enjoys the peace as well, but there are some afternoons where the glint in his eyes gets a little sparklier and I can tell I’m in for it.
Today he was a little ornery – pilfering a candy cane off the tree – but mostly laid back. We played “store” with his cash register, talked endlessly about circles and ovals (something he is inexplicably obsessed with, he points them out wherever he sees them: Dishes, patterns on clothing, indentations left by laundry baskets on the floor) and learned our ABCs with Elmo on the iPad.
When naptime rolled around, we walked hand-in-hand up the stairs and to his room. He let go of my hand, giggled, and then threw himself on the bed upside down, his legs crossed at the ankles and his feet flopped onto the pillows.
“No, goofy, turn around!” I told him.
He smiled and flipped over onto his stomach.
“Ha HA, smarty. I mean put your head on the pillow, not your feet.”
He flips over to his back again and smiles at me once more, dimples in full effect. He picks up the pillow between his feet and tosses it with monkey-like dexterity to the foot of the bed where his head is. Then he tucks it behind him and stares innocently up at me.
This mama knows when she’s been outsmarted, so I covered him with his blanket, kissed his forehead and wished him sweet dreams.
“Sweet dreams!” he replied, adding one more giggle to show he was clearly pleased with himself.
That’s my Monday in a nutshell.
Mostly predictable.
Certainly ordinary.
And peppered with the most amazingly cute moments.
I am blessed.
How sweet. I can totally picture him doing that. My mondays are pretty ordinary, too. (She says as she chugs her third cup of super fueled coffee.)
In my dream world we are neighbors and we share that coffee. Also, we live in Texas and operate our own taco stand. Shut up, it’s my dream.
Um, hello, I want to operate a taco stand. Need a partner?
Love this post, Julie!
I love ordinary moments, that’s what life is like and I feel blessed just like you to be able to experience lots of it
Same goes on over here! We usually chill out on Mondays. Sylvia doesn’t have school or any activities either. It’s the perfect time to snuggle at home all day. Too bad my daughter stopped napping at 2. I certainly could use the naptime myself! How old is your son?
No naps? Gahhhhhh. He turned two in July. We haven’t let him think there’s any other option but to nap. I wonder how much longer we can hold out on that?
You are wise to savor the ordinary, mama.
I love that word “savor” by the way – so much of life passes by us in a blur; we should all pause more often to soak it up, to enjoy the happiness that’s right here in our hands (instead of looking forward at the joy we’re still reaching for).
Not that it’s bad to reach for joy. But it’s good to recognize the stuff we’ve already grabbed, too, right?
I think I fell prey to the trap of ambition early in life and when I lost everything, realized the miracle of things like having a bed with nice linens to make up in the morning, mail that arrives to my door almost every day and drinks with Sonic ice in them.
Sounds like a wonderful Monday, Julie. And dimples are super-cute and hard to resist, aren’t they?
My kryptonite.
Before I got laid up with this stupid appendectomy, I was taking all my ordinary days for granted. Now, I just want it back.
Glad you had a good Monday. How many people can say that?
I love the days were I have my “boring, predictable” routine to live. Some days are so busy that a day to putter around at home is just what the doctor ordered.