The children's Easter break has been a full week now. Looking back on it, I can't say we have done much, but rather than feeling guilty, I feel quite happy to have done so little.
There has been no pressure to get up at a certain time in the morning. Result: no repeated hitting of the snooze button and no grumpiness as we all got just as much sleep as we needed.
There has been no rush to get out of the house for school. Result: we have rediscovered things to do at home; books we never read, recipes we hadn't tried and emails we haven't answered.
Perhaps there has been too much morning TV, as the same 2 children who have to be dragged out of bed on school mornings seem to be able to get downstairs at 7 a.m. during the holidays. While their attention is riveted to the box, I have a chance to creep into the kitchen for a solitary first cup of coffee. Result: By the time I go in to say good morning and give hugs and kisses, I am actually awake and looking forward to their company at the breakfast table.
'But, what have you actually done?' I hear you thinking. If you think our lethargy is awful, then you are probably the type who fills every one of your childrens' weekday afternoons with a club, sport or extra-curricular lesson. You may also be the parent who believes that children should be given lots of homework. I am on the other side of the Grand Canyon, educationally speaking. We'll talk about that another time.
Last week, when the sun was shining, we got some work done on the tree house. That mostly means that Brian sawed, drilled, screwed and hammered while the rest of us popped our heads up several times a day to help measure or just give our opinions. With the back door open, I could hear the kids shrieking with laughter and running around on the lawn, even as I worked on the computer or put together lunch and tea breaks. With daylight savings, dinner and bedtime got later and we survived the change in schedule, although Mr. Grumpy got slightly Victorian and proclaimed that children should not be seen or heard after 8:00 p.m. (That must mean he wanted to lavish his attention on me, right? Naah, it was Sudoku time.)
Today was the best (or worst, depending upon how you look at it) day of all. We three stayed in our pyjamas until noon, tidied up the bedrooms, ate peanut butter and jam sandwiches for lunch and only went out to get The Saturday Telegraph. Now, we are doing art projects. Painting aprons are on, newspaper is laid down and I am only required as an advisor and brush cleaner. It's better that way, as too much attention from me is interpreted as "Mummy Taking Over." It is so quiet that all I hear is the hum of the clothes dryer.
This week will be remembered for, well, nothing much. No long, boring drives. No dress code. No watching the clock. No exorbitant spending on themed days out. Not much arguing. I give it two thumbs up.
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