Idleness

I look around my sweet little house on days like these and feel overwhelmed on the need to organize the shit out of it. My dining room shelves are a mess, Patrick's old clothes have thrown up all over the guest room, and don't get me started on my closet.

But the sun is so gorgeous, I don't care. And outside we go. Off to the park, the playground, or the beach. On a walk, down the street to play, and the backyard.

So my house is a touch of a disaster, but we had a great day as a family.

After his nap, Patrick, Kevin and I hit some outdoor chores. Kevin transferred the half-yard of Tagro soil from the patio to the planter box, pots, and established gardens. Patrick dragged the big shovel around and dug whenever it struck his fancy. He played with the hose and painted everything. I wandered between both my men, helping where I could and supervising as needed.

I taped paper to the side of our shed for Patrick to paint on. This is definitely an outdoor activity. By the end of our chores, he was a mess from paint, dirt, grass, and general backyard. Add a blowout, and an immediate bath was in order. After Bath-Part-One, he decided to go outside again. Naked. We had a family walk (we dressed him) and checked out the sprayground close to home.

We had a simple dinner, Patrick is getting his "Blue" time, and then we'll put him to bed. I'll practice my guitar. We'll enjoy the adult time we've come to depend on in the evenings. And I'm reminded again why the busy days that others find so necessary I continue to avoid. I enjoy the playtime with Patrick, letting his interest lead the way without a schedule or agenda. I like the calm evenings as a family. It's why I continue to say no to all the pulls on any working parent.

I strongly recommend you try it.