Today we weeded the garden.
It was one in a series of stay-at-home events that happened today. Others included washing baby clothes, watching the Olympics and cleaning cobwebs from the front door.
Just the two of us: Elka, my little friend, and me.
Someone once told me that you can’t be friends with your children – parent/child is a different type of relationship. But I can’t agree. If I am not friends with Elka, then what is friendship? We love each other. She hangs out beside me constantly. She is brilliant company. She stimulates my creativity. She talks endlessly. She entertains me…sitting in the sandpit, imagining worlds and telling little stories.
I usually avoid home days, fearful of boredom and house work. Sometimes (like today) I crave them. I am a pregnant mama in nesting mode. I desperately needed to wash and fold small baby clothes. I needed to wipe cobwebs from outside windows and doors. I needed to pull up weeds. I needed to combat several middens that had accumulated. I needed a ‘down’ day with my little girl, where staying in my dressing gown until 2pm is acceptable (although the parcel delivery man probably didn’t think so).
Being in the comfort of our home and our dressing gowns was the perfect way to spend a day with my little friend. Sometimes, it’s all I need; just the two of us, and a pile of folded baby clothes.
{Linking with With Some Grace for FYBF & the Daily Post Challenge: From Mundane to Meaningful}
it’s great to have pj days. we have them often. It’s not bad parenting if you have them. And like you said you are pregnant so there is an excuse for it
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Absolutely! xx
Dressing gown until 2pm sounds great. Enjoy the days like this with your little friend while she has you all to herself.
I will Alicia…it’s a special time for us
Oh the joys of nesting. When are you due? x
Due 1 October Catherine. I have time enough to wash and fold baby clothes, but it feels like the first time I am really able to connect with my baby. After all the preparations I did for Elka’s impending arrival, it feels weird not to have the same type of connection!
I totally understand that feeling. It was very different for me second time round too.
My boys have just turned 2.5 and the interaction, giggles and fun times are all developing into beautiful friendships. I agree. Why can’t we have a friendship with our children?
x
Sounds like you’re very happily waiting for the impending arrival of the little one. Ah, domestic bliss
Thanks Grace for dropping by. I wonder that – why can’t we have a friendship with our children? I was thinking that all day again today, hanging with my little girl. One reason why it’s a nice idea is that we generally treat our friends with respect and compassion. Perhaps it is a good way of being with our children after all! x
I love this. My Miss four is always telling me that I’m her best friend and while I can’t wait for her to develop wonderful friendships at school etc, I hope that we remain best friends for life, cause best friends tell each EVERYTHING
That’s true Renay. We should value these friendships with our kids while they still think they have one with us. How sweet it is that your daughter calls her your best friend. What a treasure. xx
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Sounds like a lovely, relaxing day – and just what you need before but arrives
It is a tricky one. I think my daughter and I are friends. But when there is so much power on one side of the relationship it’s not friendship in the same way that adults are friends. I think I can be her friend, as long as I don’t let that get in the way of making painting decisions.
The other day Pebble asked me “why are you being so mean?”. No, I wasn’t being mean…. I was just trying to get her dressed for the day! As parents there are so many times a day that we have to be the adult, the bigger person, the guide. I think ‘mentor’ is a nice word for it.
Yes, it is true, there is a power imbalance between child and parent. Mentor is a nice word for it…mentors usually have a buddy relationship with their…what would you say, pupil?
Of curse parent/child falls into its own category, but maybe taking the attributes of friendship and mentor and applying it to parenting is helpful.
Thank you for dropping by and for your positive engagement. Xx