I promised my daughter that we would have a Do Nothing Day, and it wasn’t easy, but I kept my promise.
Kayla’s actual request was for a Do Nothing Week, but that was impossible to schedule. Even with this day marked in permanent ink on our family calendar, keeping it clear was a challenge.
Requests and opportunities are always popping up, and it’s hard to say, “No!”
Perhaps it’s because in a culture that promotes and admires busy-ness, having nothing in particular that you’re obligated to do feels like the most delinquent pleasure. So if you really want to make free time an important priority, you have to get to the point where you don’t feel like a big loser if, when someone asks what you’re planning on doing for the coming weekend, you sometimes answer, “Not a thing.” From Confessions of a Slacker Wife
by Muffy Mead-Ferro.
Even as the day progressed, and the sun peeked out, it was tempting to shower, dress, and go for a walk. But, no, we stuck by our intention to spend the day in pajamas.
So what if the laundry pile rivaled Denali, or that I lost a slipper to the sticky kitchen floor? And who cares that the homeschool IHIP is due, or Girl Scout programs need organizing? There’s always mañana.
It’s my job as a mom to show my daughter that yes, I know how to sit back and relax.
And, heck, to promote the Do Nothing Cause, I’ve even sacrificed my honor as a Busy Important Person to present you with a Slacker Wife Visual!
Has anyone ever seen a cartoon drawing of a wife loafing in a backyard hammock, a newspaper over her face and a can of beer on her stomach? It’s difficult to even produce that picture in your mind’s eye, and if you succeed it’s quite bizarre. But the husband loafing in the hammock is a visual we see all the time. It’s as well-known cliche as Dagwood Bumstead loafing on the couch. I’m not even sure our society looks down on him for doing it either, because we assume that he’s entitled, given all he’s contributing the rest of the time. Also from Confessions of a Slacker Wife
Modeling relaxation, it’s all in a day’s work.
Book Resource:
 Confessions of a Slacker Wife: Muffy Mead-Ferro: BooksISBN: 0738210161ISBN-13: 9780738210162 |
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Geeee, the ” good-for-nothing slacker husband” never gets a do nothing day.
Also, notice how Sandra is dark in the pic? SWhould have either compensated the exposure, or used a flash, or corrected it on the computer.
Thanks, honey! I really appreciate your offer to help Kayla improve her photography skills with your expert guidance.
I am on a mission to find a spot in my calendar for a Do Nothing Day. I might have room in December 2020! LOL Love the idea I ‘ll have to institute my own.
Ah, well, it’s hard to schedule a Do Nothing Day when you’re a “bizzie” mom!
I see you entered the problogger contest too! Great post and picture! We get more slacker, do-nothing days on our open ended world tour than most people, but believe it or not, we still have to fight the temptation to be too busy.
I am a big fan of lazy days and I am still in my PJ’s as I write this… late in the afternoon in Sweden.
Although it seems like a do nothing day isn’t productive, it is a good lesson to teach children. We are so busy with everything these days that we are more stressed out. Hopefully your daughter will take the do nothing day concept for herself later on in life, and it will be the thing that will keep things in balance.
Soultraveler, you inspired me to enter the contest!
Kristi, I hope you’re right. It’s a daily challenge to achieve balance and sanity in our busy lives. Hopefully, at least, my daughter will see that it’s just as important to take breaks and relax, as it is to work hard and achieve.
Found you through the problogger contest – great title and a really important lesson. I’m a real slackermom/wife and we have Do Nothing days more often than I would care to admit. Must be cause I hate housework and love being in my pj’s!!! Thanks for sharing (my contest entry is from my business blog, not my mommy blog – check it out if you are able http://halosecretarialservices.com/blog/2008/08/26/passion-for-hire/
With the busy schedule I keep, and my “keep moving” personality, I have never thought doing a “do nothing day” with my kids. I’m not sure I could pull it off on my end, but I know my kids would love it. It’s a great idea. I just may give it a shot.
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