Routines, Resolutions and Resitance
By all indications, Christmas
has passed. The decorations have been boxed and carted to the attic
where they will remain, ready, until next December when the arduous
process of putting them out will repeat itself.
The tree is down and out of the house.
I should have vacuumed. We played tag, instead.
The trash was bagged and placed by the door.
I should have taken it to the bins outside. We played a card game, instead.
Countless chores and tidying were left undone today. Chores that will be there tomorrow when my kids will not.
It’s been two weeks since they have had school. They’ve grown.
Well, except for Zella. She’s still small. The kid just refuses to
eat. How her intestines can extract enough waste product from what
actually enters her stomach to form a solid bowel movement is truly a
mystery for the ages.
On the other hand, Zia, my curly-haired little four year old, actually
backed up the toilet with the mother lode she dropped this morning.
Nothing quite says, “Good Morning, Dad” like screams coming from the
bathroom of a terrified little girl watching in horror as the water
level in the commode rises and her six year old brother yells, “Where’s
the plunger!! Where’s the plunger!!”
I enjoyed the holiday break. I spent time with my family. Not nearly enough. I
think we all benefited from the halting of the hectic grind that
typifies our daily existence. It was a treat to have the kids ask,
“What day is it today?” and for me to have to actually think about the
answer before giving a reply.
I can recall in times past when I longed for the end of school breaks,
wondering what on Earth could benefit a kid being absent two whole
weeks from his or her studies. School resumes tomorrow and I’m
counting the days until spring vacation. I’m missing my kids. Already.
I stopped making resolutions quite a number of years ago. I kind of figure it’s going to take me at least a year to get to all of the things my wife has on her list for me so a list of my own seems fairly pointless.
Pin me down for one and I suppose I’ll just respond–family.
The kids went to sleep early
this evening in preparation for the ungodly hour they shall be pulled
from their beds in the morning. School time routines shall resume. I
anticipate resistance and I shall be leading the charge.
