An "off" week

I was really dreading my boys being home on Winter Break this week. I thought for sure that they would raise hell and make messes everywhere and just drive me crazy. I have been pleasantly surprised to the contrary. With the aid of two hours of screen time a day (or more if they earn it) we are making it through. I have even enjoyed many aspects of it, such as having someone to watch and play with the baby while I take a shower in the morning. No rush and no interruptions - Heaven!

At first I thought that I should make plans to keep them busy all week. You know, find some activities to take them to, do something, anything to keep them occupied. But the snowfall early in the week has provided a play scape right outside our door. It turns out that this is the best activity I could ever ask for. No travel necessary, really cheap (ha!), and its novel since we haven't had much snow this year. The baby naps, the boys play, and Momma gets some chores done around the house - Perfect!

There has been a relaxed routine to our days that I will definitely miss next week. When the school bus returns I will find things that have to be done and have no excuse to put them off. There will be groceries to buy and errands to run, phone calls to make, appointments to go to, and when the boys return home exhausted and possibly grumpy, that nasty homework will have found its way back into our lives. This week hasn't been perfect and there has been arguing and fights, but overall it's been quiet and pleasant. So for now, for one more day, I am going to enjoy my kids being home with me. Warts and all. My kids are "off" from school and so am I - Sweet!

Screen Free?

It's "Screen Free Week" for my boys this week. Technically it's just the elementary school but my middle-schooler is supposed to participate, says ME. My youngest son was just leaving a cool afterschool activity of tie-dying when he frantically (but pleasantly) asked me what, what, what was he going to do the rest of the night? He ended up playing Wii Fit and Wii Sports. Yes, they are video games, but they're given the OK because they promote physical fitness. So that's what he did tonight while I went to the community center and did some real physical fitness and played volleyball. Or attempted to. With a hodge-podge of skill levels some nights it's frustrating not to get in a good workout. I've decided to suck it up and go and play anyway since it's my only outlet at the moment.

But back to the Screen Free Week... I have participated previously but I don't plan to this time. I am trying to be conscious of it and cut back, but I'm on the computer now and this morning watched a little television (I just started watching "Breaking Bad". Whoa!). As a matter of fact, that big, lovely screen is calling out to me now. "Hello...? Hello...? Where are you? Come to me. You know you want me. You know you want to sit and relax with me. You have American Idol to catch up on! Please visit with me! Just for a bit. I promise you can watch just one show and I won't delete the rest.... Just for a bit. A little bit...."

Yeah, see you later laptop!