Your cart is currently empty!
Reflections on a Day Well Spent
Today didn’t unfold the way I envisioned it. I didn’t manage to tackle any of the tasks on my to-do list. In fact, sweet pea, your presence meant that I truly accomplished nothing at all.
I didn’t do the laundry that’s been piling up for days, overflowing from the hamper, and tripping me up every time I step into your room. Instead, I watched you dig through your drawers, trying on countless outfits before finally deciding on the “big red rocket shirt,” which you proudly put on all by yourself (inside out, naturally).
I didn’t assemble the bookshelf we ordered last week. Instead, I sat with you in the fort you constructed, your favorite blanket draped between the box of parts and the top of the TV stand, as we lost ourselves in stories. I didn’t review your ABCs like I meant to. Instead, I practiced the art of patience, biting my tongue to avoid raising my voice when I noticed the trail of Goldfish crackers you left behind, reminiscent of Hansel and Gretel (one of the tales we enjoyed in your blanket fort).
I didn’t make it to Jiffy Lube for that long-overdue oil change, despite the persistent warning light on the dashboard. Instead, I raced toy cars across the kitchen floor with you, delighting in your laughter as they collided with the cat, sending her running with a hiss.
I didn’t cook the chicken that’s been sitting in the freezer for ages. Instead, I played along in your toy kitchen, letting you whip up plastic sandwiches while I enjoyed pretend coffee. I didn’t reach out to the maintenance guy about the dishwasher that’s been acting up. Instead, I chatted with you on the rock “cell phone” you handed me while we were outside, discussing bugs.
I didn’t make it to the post office to send your aunt’s birthday gift. Instead, I ran around the yard with you after lunch, pretending to be a dinosaur as you squealed “T-Rex!” (I also watched The Land Before Time with you while you munched on snacks).
I didn’t take the nap I desperately craved. Instead, I rocked you to sleep, soothing your fears about a possible dinosaur hiding in your closet. (Perhaps the dinosaur game wasn’t the best idea.)
I didn’t clean the bathrooms or tackle the cluttered microwave. (Let’s be honest, cleaning wasn’t really on my agenda anyway.) I didn’t sort through the mountain of photos gathering dust on my dresser either. But you know what? I created new memories with you.
I didn’t squeeze in a workout, but I did get to hug you tightly, and you squeezed me right back. My arms didn’t carry in the grocery bags I had planned to pick up today, leaving our fridge nearly empty. Instead, they carried you, and my heart is overflowing.
I didn’t even get a chance to shower. But I did take a moment—just a moment—to watch as you stacked your blocks by color, singing “Everybody Wants to Be a Cat” while you worked (you just watched The Aristocats for the first time last night).
I took a moment to listen to you talk about your Happy Meal toy, rambling about your “banana guy,” and how much you love bananas, while questioning why the kitty doesn’t wear socks or eat bananas, and why everyone wants to be a cat.
I took a moment to soak in your smallness, your charm, and your wonderfully mischievous spirit. I took a moment to grasp at the fleeting fragments of your childhood. Looking around the house – at the dishes piled near the sink, the laundry scattered across the floor, the food splattered in the microwave, and the untouched list of tasks – then looking at you, with that joyful grin and sparkling eyes, I realize something profound.
No, my little one, because of you, I didn’t do anything today. Instead, today, because of you, I did everything.
For more heartfelt thoughts on parenting, check out our other blog posts at Home Insemination Kit. If you’re exploring parenthood, resources like Make a Mom’s guide on home insemination kits can be invaluable, as well as Healthline’s informative articles on pregnancy and IVF.
Summary
This reflective piece highlights a parent’s day filled with cherished moments spent with their child rather than completing chores. It emphasizes the importance of creating memories and appreciating the small joys in life, ultimately realizing that these experiences outweigh the mundane tasks often viewed as priorities.