Don’t judge me. You know it has to be bad when that’s how
it begins. Don’t judge me. Let me start by saying that I made a
delicious breakfast for both of the children – a three egg omelet and a
bowl of cereal for the growing 12 year old and cereal alone for the
seven year old. I prepared a crock pot full of potato soup that
simmered all day to provide a hot nourishing meal for the family. The
kitchen was cleaned – not once, but twice. Oh! I almost forgot. I
made a tasty snack for the kids during the afternoon. So far, so good.
Right?
The Thursday before Christmas I was lying on the couch contemplating the trek upstairs to the bed and feeling like it was much too far to travel. I thought that it was just the exhaustion of the week and doing too much to prepare for the holidays. By Friday afternoon I knew I was in trouble and headed over to the walk-in clinic that promptly prescribed me with an antibiotic. Here is where the first “don’t judge me” comes in (the dreaded use of anti-biotics).
On Saturday I hosted my entire family for a full holiday meal and the festivities continued from there. Next came Sunday and a four hour round-trip to Chattanooga for our annual trip to the North Pole via the Polar Express; days of hosting my husband’s family; the Sun’s twelfth birthday, the list goes on. Yesterday I made returns and exchanges and began the slow packing away of the holiday decorations after church.
It was last night when my body began the protest. Still fighting an infection, though it is not nearly as bad as it would have been without the antibiotics, I picked up Pei Wei for the family and we spent the evening eating and playing a marathon game of Monopoly. Today I heard the protests even more. Exhausted, trying to kick the last remnants of a cough and cold, I took a stand. I would spend the day at my desk, on the couch or in the bed – or maybe in all three places. I turned the children loose with the remote control and allowed them unlimited viewing – let’s be real as they are exhausted too! This is where the second “don’t judge me” comes in.
Living in a home that until this Christmas only had one laptop, one television and one tablet – I can safely say that we typically have healthy boundaries when it comes to media use. But today, I could no longer fight the good fight and gave in. If anyone had visited us today they would have found mom and the kids vegged out on the couch watching back to back Disney movies and loving every minute of it. So, moms (and dads), take a day, just one day, and rest and rejuvenate in whatever way suits you best. Let the kids have some freedom. Don’t feel the need to entertain them. Make sure they are safe and fed and diapers changed (if you have young ones) and put your feet up. Go ahead. I give you permission. No judgement. (written 12-30-13)
“The mark of a successful man (or woman) is one that has spent an entire day on the bank of a river without feeling guilty about it.” ~Author Unknown
The Thursday before Christmas I was lying on the couch contemplating the trek upstairs to the bed and feeling like it was much too far to travel. I thought that it was just the exhaustion of the week and doing too much to prepare for the holidays. By Friday afternoon I knew I was in trouble and headed over to the walk-in clinic that promptly prescribed me with an antibiotic. Here is where the first “don’t judge me” comes in (the dreaded use of anti-biotics).
On Saturday I hosted my entire family for a full holiday meal and the festivities continued from there. Next came Sunday and a four hour round-trip to Chattanooga for our annual trip to the North Pole via the Polar Express; days of hosting my husband’s family; the Sun’s twelfth birthday, the list goes on. Yesterday I made returns and exchanges and began the slow packing away of the holiday decorations after church.
It was last night when my body began the protest. Still fighting an infection, though it is not nearly as bad as it would have been without the antibiotics, I picked up Pei Wei for the family and we spent the evening eating and playing a marathon game of Monopoly. Today I heard the protests even more. Exhausted, trying to kick the last remnants of a cough and cold, I took a stand. I would spend the day at my desk, on the couch or in the bed – or maybe in all three places. I turned the children loose with the remote control and allowed them unlimited viewing – let’s be real as they are exhausted too! This is where the second “don’t judge me” comes in.
Living in a home that until this Christmas only had one laptop, one television and one tablet – I can safely say that we typically have healthy boundaries when it comes to media use. But today, I could no longer fight the good fight and gave in. If anyone had visited us today they would have found mom and the kids vegged out on the couch watching back to back Disney movies and loving every minute of it. So, moms (and dads), take a day, just one day, and rest and rejuvenate in whatever way suits you best. Let the kids have some freedom. Don’t feel the need to entertain them. Make sure they are safe and fed and diapers changed (if you have young ones) and put your feet up. Go ahead. I give you permission. No judgement. (written 12-30-13)
“The mark of a successful man (or woman) is one that has spent an entire day on the bank of a river without feeling guilty about it.” ~Author Unknown
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