As a woman, I sometimes feel pressured to be extra productive throughout my day. I blame Facebook and the status updates I sometimes come across where a friend mentions she has a day filled with carpool-errands-dusting-vacuuming-laundry-cooking-working out-priming and painting the family room-sewing a new dress-repairing a car engine-building a log cabin from scratch-meetings at church-teaching the kids' program-homework-baths-storytime, etc.
I read those status updates, glance at the breakfast dishes still in my sink, and wonder how I will ever measure up.
So when we have the *opportunity* for a lazy day, I try to take hold of it instead of feeling guilty or pressured.
We had a day not too long ago in which all the stars aligned and we had no plans. No errands to run, no obligations. Nada. Zilch. Nothing.
I let the girls watch TV. In their pajamas. For more than one cartoon.
Just because.
I cringed at the mess, but I let them pull out the dreaded Play Doh Cake Makin' Station and create fabulously unedible works of pastry art.
Then they asked if they could eat lunch in the dining room to be "fancy."
It was on the tip of my tongue to say "no" because I didn't want the hassle. But then I reminded myself that they won't be little forever. So we did away with the plastic lunch plates and dug out my "fancy" ones.
Peanut butter and Jelly sandwiches are so much fancier on nice plates, no?
And we ate our fancy lunch in the dining room.
Just because.
It was a great lesson for me to learn to say "yes" more often. I get so wrapped up in the errands, the laundry, the emails, the carpooling, the blog comments..."no" is the reply I'd like to use a lot less.
Wouldn't it be nice to look at a Lazy day as a gift instead of a drag? To enjoy some free time with loved ones instead of going over your mental to-do list all day?
I know next time I will. Just because.
*I hope you'll come back later this week because I'm going to start a short blogging series on Commenting 101!*
Great post!!
ReplyDeleteI try to look at lazy days as a treat..but it's hard when there are a gazillion things I could be doing!
Thanks for the reminder that I should accept the lazies as a gift :)
Days like these are the ones your girls will remember long into adulthood. :) You're making wonderful memories.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful day of memories with Mom! So much better than those FB litanies by others!
ReplyDeleteI love those days when I allow myself to just BE. It's so hard though.... I'm always thinking about the things I NEED to be doing. I've been trying lately to stay off the computer and be with my kids more, and it's been fabulous. PBandJ IS fabulous in a dining room. :)
ReplyDeletewhat an awesome day!
ReplyDeleteAWWW!!! They will remember this forever and want to have fancy lunches again! Fun, fun!
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you. As I've gotten older (yikes!), I've come to realize that when it comes to the house and all the 'stuff' there is to do each day, 'Good Enough' is great. It's true...kids won't remember an untidy house, but they will remember lunch in the dining room and the day we let them mix play-do colors.
ReplyDeleteAw cute!
ReplyDeleteThey look soooo cozy in the pj's! I wish I was still in mine! :)
ReplyDeleteI think that when you add a fancy plate it dress's up any meal! Love the green beans too!!
If you have not already, Please check out my blog for the giveaway I have going.
www.lettinglovegrow.blogspot.com
Looks like such a fun day!
ReplyDeleteCute Post! I feel like every day is a "lazy day" around here lately :). I love the pics too... my nieces are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteSusu
How adorable! They must have had so much fun. I know what you mean about feeling guilty about lazy days... I don't even have kids yet, but I always feel like I should be busy and productive! I think it's great to treasure those "lazy" moments with your daughters though. :)
ReplyDeleteI love this post and wish I could have put on my jammies and joined you because I agree sometimes we need to be fancy in our jammies, just because. You are such a good Mommy and your girls are so precious....but, I wonder...how did they both get so big, so quickly? (((hugs)))
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Sometimes I get so wrapped in trying to be productive and keep the house in order that I forget that it's okay to get a little messy or have spontaneous fun for no other reason than "just because." Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteI'm totally with you with this!! And even if at the end we don't clean all day or finsh to iron the pile of clothes that are sitting there for days now, it is nice to have those lazy days to enjoy doing nothing for once and have fun with the kids! Veronica
ReplyDeleteI love a good lazy day...I think I've had a few too many lately though because my house is a totally wreck! I love your fancy lunch with the cute parfait cups of yogurt:)
ReplyDeleteFun!
ReplyDeleteWonderful post! I agree - I am the same way. Sometimes (even though I am a stay at home mom) I get so wrapped up in everything else, that I forget to say 'yes' more to my kiddos. :) Good for you!
ReplyDeleteHi Amanda, it's great to see pics of your girls, they are so adorable!!!!
ReplyDeleteEasier said than done, but embrace those days!!! We had a crazy weekend and am looking forward to this weekend where we have no official plans (Yet!).
I agree, it's so easy to get caught up with the to-do lists and blog comments.
Looking for your commenting post!! Have a great week.
Karen
A good lesson and something that you’re kiddos will look back and be grateful for one day! Fancy lunches, watching T.V. in their P.J.’s……I bet the girls had a GREAT lazy day!
ReplyDeleteKendra
How sweet to have a "fancy" lunch with your girls, that is so cute!
ReplyDeleteTotally love it! I struggle with "lazy days" as well but, I am sure the kids appreciate a day "off" as much as we do! :D
ReplyDeleteEverybody should take a lazy day once in a while! Looks like you and your girls had a lot of fun.
ReplyDeleteI need to learn to say "no" less, too.
What a great mom!!
ReplyDeleteI love lazy days. I have entirely too many of them. It's one of the few things that I can say I'm really good at. That's why my house is such a mess right now.
ReplyDeleteLooks like the girls had a good time. How fun to get to eat on the fancy plates! Fancy plates do make peanut butter and jelly so much more fun, almost like a tea party or something. Good for you for saying yes. I say no waaaay too much.
What a fabulous day, amanda, you're a great mom! Thanks for a reminder of those important little things that I need to remember to slow down for!
ReplyDeleteI LOve Just because Days.. I learned early that they mean more than the dusting!! Great post!
ReplyDeleteHow fun to spend a day having special time with your daughters...doesn't sound like a lazy day to me...sounds like spending time building up your girls and nurturing them. This is part of being mom...its one of the things that makes us different from being a housekeeper...its in those times that you really get to know them and strengthen the mommy-daughter and daughter to daughter bond. Amazing times...amazing memories...teaching them to how to relax and find balance in their lives. :D
ReplyDeleteGreat job mom!
Mary Joy
Lazy days are the best! Looks like it was a great day. My kids love to eat in the dining room too since we don't use it on a regular basis. Makes it fun, I guess. Oh and those fancy plates are SO cute!
ReplyDeleteI try to be a "yes" mom as often as I can but I catch myself being a "no" mom more often than I'd like. They sure do grow up too fast. Enjoy all these fun "just because" memories!
Jenn
Yay! Good for you and the girls. Everyone needs a break more often! Lucky things.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to the course!
Love this, Amanda! I find myself thinking... why can't I even get a shower when someone else can remodel their kitchen during naptime? Also, I clearly need more sleep than everyone else in blogland. For some strange reason I can't go to bed at 2 a.m. every night. Something must be wrong with me. {insert sarcasm here} :)
ReplyDeleteOh, and we are lazy around here at least once a week! :)
A lazy day with the kids sounds like a good idea to me. Housework will be there when you get to it but they are only going to be little once.
ReplyDeleteI am looking forward to your commenting series!
You will have to let go. Time goes by too fast and sooner that you know it your children will be one year away from college... and you will cry once a week because of this. Enjoy your dining room table. The crystal glasses, the silverplate silverware. Use it all. I buried my Mom this passed week and I came to the realization that I had such great memories of those beautiful gold wheat dishes that we had on special occasions, but why did we not use them more? Why did we have to save everything for "good". Why is it not ok to just let it go and spend an entire day watching tv in our jammies? Some of my favorite memories were pulling out the bed from the couch and watching tv... eating crackers in the bed and snuggling with my sisters and my Mom. Enjoying that cup of hot chocolate in the special "teacups" that grandma brought back from her trip to Europe. Splashing puddles in the rain with my Mom and sisters. Not stepping on the crack cause I didnt want to break my Mommas back. Having dance parties on Saturday night and dressing up in my Moms good dresses and fun jewelry. Putting silly makeup on my Mom and her wearing it all night just to make me happy. Having a pea fight in the kitchen with my brother because we didnt want to eat peas. Having my Mom put the warm laundry on top of us because it was so warm and toasty and smelt good! Making playdo with salt and flour and food coloring. Cutting and pasting. Coloring, coloring, coloring. Take the time for the silly things in life, your kids will enjoy them along with the fancy memories of the lunch in the dining room. I have my Moms kitchen table, well her only table and we used to make a slide out of the insert inside of it. I had my son use it as a slide also. Please, take the time to use the good china, the fancy teapot, Grandmas vases, Moms fur wraps, have them dress in your big shoes... they grow up too fast and you will be longing for those days.... And life will bring them long lasting happy memories because you took the time to play... cleaning and dusting can wait for tomorrow - cause babies don't keep, and I am rocking my baby to sleep. Take care, enjoy life.
ReplyDeletehow come i still cringe at the sight of little play-do bits? it's been more than ten years since we've had play-do here. i only like to watch it on tv :)
ReplyDeletethe fancy lunch in the dining room made me smile though :) i love when i can say yes!
What a great post! I think people need these kind of days more often then they think :-) It's so wonderful to be able to forget it all sometimes & just take time to spend all you can with the ones you love. I'm sure the girls won't forget it :-)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a wonderful day! I'm sure your girls had a great day, and I bet they will remember it for awhile! It's a good reminder to everyone to take the extra time to do the fun things with our kids! They don't stay little long. Dirty dishes can wait!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for letting me post for your linky party over the weekend! I was so excited! That was my first one! ...can you please enlighten this new blogger on how to add a button? THANKS!!
ReplyDeletewhat a wonderful post and lesson in life! thank you :)
ReplyDeleteI loved this post. It choked me up a little. I feel so busy lately that I'm afraid I'm missing out on my kids, and I hate it!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this great reminder.
Lazy days are the best- especially when spent in your pj's!! :)
ReplyDelete