Son in the Sun

Photo by Photoholgic on Unsplash

I did a bad, bad thing yesterday. Or, at least according to my old value system, it would have been a bad, bad thing.

An ingrained work ethic propels me to work daily (I’m self-employed) on blog posts or social media related to promoting my brand. Although I don’t commute to an office anymore, I still feel like I should spend hours each day honing my craft, doing research, and networking. I no longer have a boss driving my deadlines, but I’m focused on my career, and I know how much effort it takes to succeed.

Here in Alabama, we have had rain and cooler temperatures pretty much all week. The sky has been gray and overcast, which is excellent for staying inside and getting work done, but not so great if you are a bored tween.
It’s summer. Kiddo is out of school, and extra summer schoolwork only fills a few hours a day. He occupies the rest of his time playing VR or video games. He has only received his first COVID shot, so he is not cleared to spend socially undistanced time with other kids right now. Last summer’s disappointing avoidance of anything resembling fun due to the pandemic is also still fresh in his young mind.

With all of these thoughts nagging this concerned mother’s mind, the clouds in the sky parted just briefly yesterday afternoon, and a bright sun shone down for about two hours, like a spotlight from heaven.

“This is it!” I thought. Now was the opportunity to do something spontaneous and loving for my son’s mental state and put the ghosts of my workaholism behind me. The old me would worry about taking time off during the working day or that it would be a frivolous waste of my time. It wasn’t.

I took kiddo to the neighborhood pool, and he loved it. I enjoyed getting out into the fresh air and even managed to catch up on reading a publishing book that interested me. It was a nice change of pace for both of us, and my son felt less trapped in the house. “Thank you for taking me to the pool, Mom,” was my reward for the good deed.

Mama had a hard decision to make, and I know I made the right one. Work can wait.