“Children don’t say ‘I had a hard day, can we talk?’ They say, ‘Will you play with me?‘” – Lawrence Cohen
On Monday, four-year-old Mr. D didn’t want to go to pre-school. We got his eight-year-old sister to school and then I figured out that my long list of important work to do wasn’t in fact more important than helping him understand that we can do hard things. Especially when we anchor them to small treats. So we threw rocks into Greenlake instead. And then he happily went to school and I went to work but without that emotional hangover that comes with hard drop-offs.
Later, he told his sister, “You just have to throw rocks into the water and it makes big feelings come back to happy.”
One of the unexpected benefits of getting a real job is that I’ve had to employ my kids on the weekend to help me with my chores whereas I’d sneak them in during the school day before. The weekend before last we had “Oil change Saturday” and we went to Jiffy Lube, the gas station, and got a car wash. Funny enough – they loved it.
And this past week, we had “Seal the Grout Sunday” where they helped me seal the grout on the walls of my driveway that my parents helped me tile. When we went to my brother’s tugboat, Mr. D chipped in with the vacuuming. It’s quite possible I’m raising another generation that chooses projects as their love language.
Riding bikes to school.
We found the perfect climbing tree at Discovery Park and before I knew it, Miss O was almost out of sight. Thank goodness the young special forces dude with us had binoculars and a cute dog on the mission. Fortunately Miss O came back down before I had to call out the rest of the imaginary troops.
Mr Cooper adds to the number of people who move my glasses around here. Oh, and he moves mer-man as well. But he hasn’t found the magic to unlock the friendship with the cat yet, no matter what his puppy dog eyes say!
A leaf-frame provided the heart of the week. I can’t even remember what illustrious establishment had the sign of the week. Fortunately all the staff must have been untrained because I don’t recall any craziness.
Quote from Wednesday’s Child post I Had a Bad Day, Mom
Surprised By Joy 