It's Pajama Time!

Today is what I like to call Pajama Day. That's really just my way of saying it's "stay at home so mommy can clean" day. In my experience I have found that the way you phrase things sometimes determines how your child receives them. So cleaning day became pajama day.

Pajama Day works like this; I start in one room and when I'm done cleaning I take a break. During that break I sit with the kids for a while reading or playing a game. Once we've done that for 15-30 minutes I start on the next room. I continue like this until the house is clean. This works great for the summer since it leaves the rest of my week free to do whatever we want. It also allows one day when the kids have total downtime.

Movie time was at the same time today, after lunch, and today's pick was Oliver and Company. This was viewed on the largest computer screen I could set up since our tv will not be fixed for another week. Darn the waiting for replacement parts. Actully, I'm not really bothered by the no tv thing. The only time I really used it during the day was for movie time. So as long as that routine is still in play, we're okay. 

If you want to try a Pajama Day here are some suggestions for things to do during the period you are with your kids. Some will be applicable and some may not, use whatever works for you. Read, board games, face painting, jewlery making, educational web sites like abcmouse.com, workbooks, kids magazines like highlights, kids baking, etc. The list goes on and on. And since they may not get to go outside for the day make inside fun. Have a tea party for lunch. Or serve yourselves a meal in the living room while watching a family movie. Let them have a sweet snack that you'd normally never give them. Pull out a kids tent, or put up a makeshift one, turn out the lights in the room you're not cleaning and give them flashlights. We even have cd's with nature sounds or scary Halloween noises to put on. You're only limited to your imagination. Always explain to your kids that you'll be able to play on and off for the day so they have to give you a little time in between. And if you have babies use a carrier to keep them strapped to you while you clean. I usually did that when they were little if things like the play pen, bouncy chair, or swing didn't work.

Eventually we did end up leaving the house today but only to go down the street for my six year olds piano practice. I am lucky to have a niece who plays well enough to teach my daughter and who is willing to do it. While my oldest practiced with her cousin I set myself up in the other room with my three year old and my nephew and read to them until piano was done.

Although this may not have seemed like the most exciting day in our summer  the fact of the matter is we all need a little time to do the regular day to day things. It's nice to take it easy and get the chores done. No money was spent. And the girls and I got time to ourselves without distractions. Except for the random tv repairman in the house who didn't actually repair anything.

Lesson for the day: Sometimes less is more. You don't always need to go out and spend money to enjoy time with the kids. And make sure you take the time to stay on top of those not so exciting chores, it'll only cause more stress for you if you let tasks pile up.