Day Sixty: Day Off

Well Deserved Rest

It is now Veteran's Day and instead of taking time to honor all those that have served this country honorably, I am lamenting the fact that the kids have a day off from school. As I was waiting for the school bus yesterday morning, some of the other mothers were commenting on the rash of illnesses that has overtaken our neighborhood. Thus, they concluded, this day off is a blessing. I almost laughed out loud! I don't know about them, but my kids will not use this day for rest. They will use this day to watch cartoon, play video games, wrestle, argue, sneak snacks when I am not paying attention and generally wreak havoc all over the house. Rest?! Some people are either much better parents or simply delusional.

Of course, there will be no rest for the adults in my house even though they really, really want some. My husband has been given a reprieve this morning, as I got up with the three year old and the dog at 6:00 a.m. My guess is that he will be able to "sleep in" until about 7:30, as that is about the time that shrieking laughter erupts from the breakfast table. I know I should be grateful for their glee, but that early in the morning with someone in the house trying to sleep, I only succeed in becoming annoyed. Remember, the sounds of the boys are always accompanied by the shrill bark of an over excited cocker spaniel. I know, I know, someday I will miss all of this, but that day is not today.

I don't think I will be doing anything in particular to honor veterans today. I did just send out the third monthly installment of boxes to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. As in all holidays, I think it is best to honor the spirit of the holiday throughout the year. I especially think this is true for Thanksgiving and Christmas, as there is much to be grateful for and much joy to be shared. Of course, that gratitude and joy will not be found today during the breakfast free-for-all or during the daytime melee. On that note, I am off to make the troupes breakfast. I will don my psychological helmet and flack jacket as to keep my sense of humor about me during this day off from school.

Okay, cover me, I'm going in!!!

UPDATE: Despite my cynical response to the talk of rest during the day off from school, it turns out that it was a day of rest after all. A perfect storm of play dates, birthday parties and Tim's time off created a quiet house for most of the day. I was blessed with not one, but two naps, an unheard of occurrence for me. I was able to fight off the feeling of coming down with a cold because of the extra rest. I guess I owes the neighborhood moms a mental apology, as they were right after all. It was a blessing that the kids had the day off from school. What do you know, it is getting easier after all.