My first two years out of college I had a job I hated, a boyfriend who I didn’t particularly like, and no idea what I wanted from life. To get myself through the week I assigned a special “treat” to each day. Monday was “take the ferry to work even if it takes a little longer” day. Tuesday was chocolate croissant day. Wednesday was bookstore day. Thursday was window shop at Bloomingdale’s day. Friday was movie after work day. For some reason having a “something” to look forward to each day kept me (sort of) out of the deep depression that I was afraid of sinking into.
I’ve been in a blah mood for the last couple of weeks, perhaps because the changing weather has halted our spur of the moment forays outside, or because we have entered the season when M works late or travels more days than not. As I made myself an illicit lunch of nachos yesterday after convincing both children to nap, I thought about reinstating my special treat therapy. I can’t quite seem to come up with an equally satisfying roster of treats, however. Would “Wednesday is no laundry day” really have the same pick-me-up as knowing I got to spend an hour perusing books and picking out just the right one? I don’t think so. And what are the odds of convincing my children that “Tuesday is no whining day?”
My mother assures me that these years of isolation at home with irrational, demanding preschoolers and toddlers will be over before I know it, and that I will, in fact, look back fondly at them. As I listen to C upstairs throwing a temper tantrum of massive proportions because I told him we couldn’t use green finger paint to “perk up” his ceiling, I’m not so sure. From the sounds of things upstairs I think I have to work a little bit harder at convincing myself that “Wednesday is no laundry day” is in fact a treat worthy of celebration.
I think the blahs are going around right now — November is tough. And “Wednesday is bookstore day” just doesn’t have the same ring to it when you never get out of the board book section.
I wish we could invite you over to let C. “perk up” the ceiling in Baby Blue’s room. It couldn’t look worse than the water stains already on it.
I agree with Phantom that there is just something about this time of year that makes people a bit “off.”
It must be very tough not to have your husband around to help.
Surely the yummy chocolate croissant is still in the running for a treat?
Ah, but the purchase of the yummy croissant would involve shlepping both children to the bakery, which would end in a temper tantrum, the purchase of many more treats, and then the sugar high crash and burn…sigh.
Thanks for the offer Phantom. If a strange child appears at South Station screaming “Phantom???? LG???? Baby Blue????” you’ll know where he came from
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Thanks for the moral support….
But how could you have ever been depressed with such a great roommate?
I’m all in favor of declaring Wednesday “no laundry day.” But it’s really “no whining Tuesday” that gets my attention the most. Can I get a call for acclimation here?
Oh, I join you in singing the blahs (oh, that was SO bad a pun, sorry). I think coming up with mini treats for yourself is a great idea. ESPECIALLY the no-whining Tuesday treat. Now, how can we get our children to cooperate?