My body insists that actually, what would REALLY make it feel better would be ice cream. Or maybe a meringue. Possibly some cinnamon toast. Or a homemade pie. Cupcakes?
* * *
Today was supposed to be a fun family day.
We were going to take our kids out to pick fresh apples in the mountains... or maybe out to the valley to get a "real" pumpkin from a patch.
Then we learned that today (Columbus Day) is a school holiday for one of our children, but not the other. Apparently private schools appreciate having the day off (they still get paid and don't have to show up...) but public schools prefer to stay open so that they'll receive federal funding for student attendance.
At least, that's my mother's theory.
So at the very last minute, we were obliged to change our plans.
No mountains, no pumpkin patch. Instead, school lunch was duly packed... son was bathed and sent along his merry way to learn with his buddies.
The other four of us were left sitting around at home wondering how to spend the day.
My husband, being a practical guy, decided that it was time to sort laundry.
Normally this would be great! What a guy ~ helping to sort the laundry! Typically I'd be thrilled.
However there is something vaguely disappointing about going to bed dreaming about family road trips with music and delicious food and laughter; and then walking into the kitchen a few hours later to find a mountain of laundry in the middle of the floor, spreading in all directions.
It didn't feel good.
I do chores six days a week. My whole world as a stay-at-home mother revolves around doing chores. Today was supposed to be a day of rest and relaxation.
My husband will be leaving town for a bicycling trip (much deserved, long awaited) with his siblings and father on Friday. I will have the kids on my own in his absence.
I anticipate that for the 72 hours of his getaway, I'll be doing nothing but chores of one kind or another: all the work I normally do, plus all of the stuff he normally helps me with.
All this to say, I don't want to spend Columbus Day doing laundry.
* * *
Since I'm working tonight, and since I had the kids on my own a lot this weekend, my husband agreed to a compromise. He would do laundry and all of the practical things he's hoping to accomplish with the day.
I will take a break and decompress before a big week ahead.
It was nice of him to suggest this compromise, and I'd be foolish not to accept the kind offer.
I'm just not sure how to spend my time.
I wasn't expecting that I'd have free moments today. I thought we'd be out walking in a pasture somewhere as a family! I didn't expect downtime. I don't have any plans. It's a little late to find a friend to get together with for lunch or a playdate.
* * *
However, there is one thing I'd like to do.
I'd like to do something nice for my husband.
Tomorrow is our 9th anniversary, and lately we've been so busy with the kids, we haven't had a date night alone in weeks.
I think this is pretty common for parents with young kids. One of my best friends recently confided that she and her husband had their first date night out since their nearly 18 month old daughter was born...
A year and a half! That's a long time to go without any private time alone, over candlelight or just holding hands at the movies.
(Then I felt really badly for complaining to her about not having a date night in weeks.)
* * *
Nine years - that's a lot to be proud of. I'm lucky to be married to such a good man and I truly want to surprise him with something special.
We're going out of town soon to see a great show as part of our anniversary celebration, but this surprise for tomorrow will be something more personal and sweet.
On this Columbus Day then, my plan is to put together a lovely surprise (shhhh, don't tell!) for my honey... to celebrate nine extremely full, beautiful, exciting years together.
Looking forward to writing more about that tomorrow!
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