It started with Zanders runny nose and inability to fall asleep, next thing I knew I had chills and body aches. We were sick, it was official. Unfortunately I was in the middle of a project for a client, I emailed to put it on hold for a few days and me and Zander bunkered down for a few days.
The house went to utter chaos, laundry backed up, toys everywhere, dishes in the sink. Zander and I napped together in my bed for a few hours at a time. He watched DVDs much longer than I usually allow, I probably spent too much time on the computer and the rest of the time I just lay on the floor while he played. Normally, I am cleaning trying to keep our house organized while Zander plays or naps and then we are out and about, running errands, seeing friends. Every day is busy and very task oriented.
What was so great about the past couple of days is I gave myself permission to have a messy house, to not be a perfect parent and I have to say I was a lot more relaxed and happy. We stayed in our jammies until 3 and the house was a mess and we bummed around together. I played peek-a-boo with him for the first time in a long time, he laughed hysterically to my delight. I thought, if it is so easy to make Zander laugh like this, why aren’t I doing it more often? It was kind of like a vacation, I got the video camera out and took some footage of him crawling around, something I haven’t done in ages.
I don’t know if this is a related, but Zander over the course of these three days started showing me real affection. He will kiss me by placing an opened mouth on my cheek and will hug me by snuggling his head into my shoulder.
What I am taking away from this: The housework can wait, my clients can wait, and sometimes Zander can wait. I’ve got to take the pressure off myself to be perfect all the time. Real perfection is a toothy grin and a big wet kiss.
