To save Dave and me from insanity when “I’m hungry” hits right before bedtime, I made a rule: the kitchen’s closed. I do no prep or cleanup and Evelyn has to fend for herself. If she’s gets to bed 20 or 45 minutes later, it’s no skin off my back. I work later mornings from home, Dave is a retired stay-at-home dad, and because we homeschool, the morning starts without an alarm.
Can you believe I slept in until 10:00 a.m. this morning? At the usual 7:30 a.m. blinking-eyes-open, quick-potty moment, I returned to bed, checking my email and contemplating a run or coffee. But something else became heavy. Oooh, I thought, how good it would feel to sink further into that feeling.
So I did. And I did repeatedly throughout the day. On my run, instead of a 9-minute-mile pace, I gently ambled at a 10-minute-plus pace. The 5K was a joy, as was the bit of craft and school-stuff organizing, and a homemade Mexican dinner feast.
The difference between yesterday and today is night and day. Yesterday, I felt like I was working for relaxation, never quite scratching the itch. Today, everywhere I turned, relaxation snuggled up to me like the softest kitten.
I can’t think of anything more worthwhile to write about. The keyword is worthwhile. Because I thought of several things just now: what in the world is my next book club book anyway, I need to text Katie back, and we have a clone of the 9-foot orange umbrella and base ordered and being shipped here. But those are just details. Nothing to jump off into deeper waters from.
Perhaps that’s a good thing, not having a need for the deep. Being at the surface, with its peaceful easy feeling, has got to stay.
I’ll give the show Traitors a go and see if it can sweep me away as the nightcap for the evening.
Happy Mother’s Day.
Love, Jaclynn