It is thirty degrees below zero and I am staying at home to make sure that there is someone here to call 911 in case my landlord falls off the roof while he is clearing off the snow.
I have darling children who like to mainly talk about body functions and their attended noises. Smootch used to discuss literature and philosophy with me but since Birdie started saying more than 'train' the conversation has downgraded somewhat. They also make these terrible messes which I feel a responsibility to help clean up at least a little bit since I encouraged them to make them in the first place.
Most of my days are pretty busy, crafts to do, books to read, errands to run and so forth. I write a little, think a lot, visit and plot and play. Somedays I feel energetic and tackle the laundry pile or get down to the bottom of the dirty dish sink. Sometimes I host elaborate royal receptions, complete with fanciful if not entirely historically accurate costumery.
Other days are more ho hum. I can't seem to muster up the energy for dramatic productions, the kids don't want to read books with me, there is no way I'm going to even think about sweeping up.
Today, I'm bored.
The kids are happy. They are fairly easy to entertain, and when all else fails, I just turn a blind eye to some rule infractions and they gleefully make themselves scarce, thinking they are getting away with something.
On these days, the little bit of ambition I have goes to creating amusements for myself. Ways to stay engaged with the kids instead of just wandering off to check the help wanted ads. Ride out the blue, knowing that tomorrow is a different day. A different story.
I play games with the kids that have them act out different animals. Smootch's impression of a catapillar never fails to make me giggle. I try to teach the kids the kids the running man and mash potato dance moves and then play some vintage Young MC. I will play a show just for me, Big Bang Theory or Scott Pilgram VS. The World, and laugh. The kids always like to snuggle up and marvel that I am so easily amused by what seems so boring.
How do you get through the down days?
Lovely post. Here we are stuck inside with the kids because it is 30 to 40+ Celsius- in the opposite direction. The heat makes everyone tired, grumpy, and intolerant. A few extra icypoles and frozen yoghurts and playing games under the aircon help. But really having an avo snooze in a quiet house would help more. But that ain't gonna happen lol.
ReplyDeleteWe are also shivering here in Minot, ND. When we get stir crazy, we tend to start big projects. BIG projects, like super arts and crafts or big organizational projects. Also, we try to go outside, even if it's so cold we can only go out for 5 minutes. By the time you get dressed, get out, come in, dry clothes, and have a snack, it's practically hours later :-)
ReplyDeleteLove Smootch's outfit, by the way :-)
ReplyDeletePlay doh and pajamas, that's what I always say!
ReplyDeleteAhhhh, yes. I'm familiar with those. I tend to read sewing blogs, while the twins make their chairs into a "Slon" and do each others "Herrs". :)
ReplyDeleteBaking often helps, but only if I require myself before hand to banish the guilt about the eating part.
I daydream alot about spending three months a year as a nomad living in a Tipi in Yellowstone. (I have the entire thing laid out in my mind).
Sometimes, on the really bad days I rewatch "X-Men" and put that scene with Hugh Jackmans shoulders on slow mo.
:)
(Being as I'm in the UK, at least it's not snowy. Cold yes, but we can bundle up and walk to the store even if we don't buy anything. :D)
:-( we all have those days. hhmm what would I do, have a lovely bath (obviously whilst the kids throw things in for you - you always need toys in the bath :-)), do something creative, read mags, watch a funny film and snuggle up with the kiddies to watch it. Tomorrow will be better. x
ReplyDeleteIt's cold in my part of Ontario too. I try to get out to a playgroup. They have them at various schools through the week, so thankfully I can always get out. Heat up the car, bundle everyone up and go. Pixar movies, pretzels, and hot chocolate help too! The easiest thing now is my husband on parental leave for one more month! What a lifesaver!!!
ReplyDeleteMy down days usually go something like this: I decide vegging and watching some stupid TV (How I Met Your Mother or The Big Bang Theory...) while eating cookie dough (or something similarly disgusting) will make me feel better, while the kids either play in the other room or during their nap. So I do it, then I feel even crappier. Then I muster all my resolve and get up and accomplish something productive (baking or cleaning usually) and/or do something with the kids. Which makes me feel better but wears me out. Then, if I still feel bad when my DH gets home, I leave him and the kids and go to the Y and go swimming. Because swimming makes everything better:) Even in sub zero temps.
ReplyDeleteTurn up some happy music, put on the coffee or tea, force myself to start one small thing, maybe clean out a corner or do laundry even if I don't feel like it.
ReplyDeleteOr do something completely new- maybe send away for a seed catalog or put a new background on my blog or go to the thrift store for some new reading...
I listen to the radio.
ReplyDeleteKnowing that the world is still turning outside the madness of the inside of our house has always been calming for me. I am addicted to BBC Radio 4 on my DAN radio but you can get it online I'm sure. I listen to news, drama, short stories, comedy, intellectual discussions and science programmes. Almost everything my mind needs is there on top of my fridge!
I listen to the radio.
ReplyDeleteKnowing that the world is still turning outside the madness of the inside of our house has always been calming for me. I am addicted to BBC Radio 4 on my DAN radio but you can get it online I'm sure. I listen to news, drama, short stories, comedy, intellectual discussions and science programmes. Almost everything my mind needs is there on top of my fridge!
I paint the house. Since you have seen my house, you know what 10 days of minus 30 C can force a woman to do.
ReplyDeleteIt's going green later this week (but I'm keeping the red and some of the blue.)
Big Bang is great, try 30 Rock, too.
Books on CD from the library is my new "go to" for the boys. It seems surreal to see four boys sitting quietly, unmoving for an hour at a time. I wonder if I've slipped into another dimention.
Popcorn tossing across the room trying to get it into each others mouths is great fun. Tell the kids popcorn doesn't get dirty and they'll clean most of it up too.
Anita...who is looking for some tall talk.
we're in portland, oregon, so we don't have snow (although a couple of inches have stopped this city dead in its tracks), but the driving rain has kept us inside many a day.
ReplyDeletei try to think of something new to do every hour or two. once the kids start whining, everything goes downhill for me. here's a quick rundown of some of our indoor activities: taking photos and editing them on the computer, signing songs on video and doing the same, taking more than one bubble bath during the day (sometimes cutting out new shapes from pages of dollar store neon foam beforehand), baking bread (takes a long time and you get to revisit it throughout the day), give the kids the chance to help me organize/clean something OR play a game by themselves (talk about a win/win situation!). by then, its usu time to start dinner and wait till hubby comes home. once, when i was getting seriously crazy (four days at home with sick kids), i doled out a few chocolate chips every 15 minutes - they literally sat and watched the clock for an hour straight! gotta love guerilla parenting!! :)
we don't have freezing cold days... but we do have stinking hot ones where it is WAY too hot to go outside... on these days we play with playdough... listen to audio books... make jelly, or icy poles... build train tracks... build inside forts where the toys can hang out as well... gosh whatever i can think of to keep my hyperactive boy entertained!
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