Adults do need a playtime....

Having just come from a quick trip to participate in my son’s defense of his thesis had me pondering on the plane. Parker has just completed 12 straight years of school, and it is finally over. I know he has to be so relieved. See, I have always been completed blown away about his dedication and his disciplined personality. Yep, very high on the conscientious scale. Since the time he was in elementary school, through high school, and then college, he always pushed himself. I used to worry about him hitting burn out. However, while I was there, I realized something about both my boys and my husband, that they can do very well that I am not good at. Well, actually, there are many things such as algebra and any math lol but we will save that topic for later. All three of them can just sit down and play, completely focused on a game. No mind chatter, as I call it. Parker has planned a week with a friend, who also just completed his doctorate, over for the week to play games. Now, these games are not monopoly or scrabble, (strategy and hard thinking) but still the same, they are games. I was impressed that he was going to plan a week of play. I loved it. Louis would play for hours on games if he could. Preston does the same. Preston will have a hard week at work and tell me he is staying home to play games. They all play different, but they all play.

I found myself a little jealous of all three of them. They can be so focused on a project and completely lose time and never even stop to eat. But, if I join them and sit down for a board game, mom better not get up and start fixing snacks unless it is intermission. This will send all of them over the edge. I hear, MOM, sit down, which I scramble over and do quickly. I love to play games with them but in the back of my head, that damn mind chatter as I call it, sets in. I really should be ready a chapter in this class, or I need to tend to my garden, or wash a load of laundry. I always seem to feel a little guilty just sitting around playing a game or doing nothing. I can watch a movie, show, or a sport and enjoy but for some reason, just sitting around playing has been hard. Now, if I am on vacation or away from my home, it is much easier to relax and play. Maybe that is why I enjoy going places all the time!

I want to get better at relaxing at home and giving myself permission to play more. I know I have talked about this before but adding more fun in our days would be good for us! Is it the mom in us? Is it that we always were used to juggling a career and family for so many years that we lost how to play? I have not worked since May of 2021 and I am still so busy. I have my google calendar packed. I do take my 86-year-old father to most of his Dr appointments and I am taking 3 Psychology classes. I am also working on a certification to be a health and life coach, so I do need to be somewhat disciplined. I do think play is still very important. Now, not all of us enjoy board games. Some of us might enjoy puzzles, electronic games, phone games, etc. I have not ever play any of the phone games but many of my friends do. I always tell myself, I do not have time for that. However, just maybe I should make that time. If you are someone that plays a lot of games, you are probably reading this thinking, Janie, you are nuts. Well, it might be the case. I have always had trouble idling, but now going to put it in my play time on my google calendar!

To wrap things up, I encourage all of you to think about this spring of planting a few herbs. It is so fun. You can purchase them at Walmart for a few bucks. They need sun so make sure you plant them in sunny area or even place them inside now on the windowsill. I have so much enjoyed being able to run out to my herb garden, snip off a few pieces, and throw in my dishes. They are the easiest to care for and take very little effort.

I am a complete amateur gardener but have fun learning. Last year my mint did not do well and am told it is one of the easiest to grow. Not sure what happened but planning on doing better this year. My composting is slowed during the cold weather but it should be ramping up soon. I am so looking forward to spending time in the sunshine soon. The wind has been keeping me inside for too long. So, go pick you a small area in the back yard, and think about what herbs your family would enjoy most.

Have a beautiful day!