Chatting With Peter's Mom

 I’ve been over it the last few weeks. 

We’re almost a year into this Covid-arrangement that I never agreed to, and I’m over “silver-lining” things. 

We’ve done the puzzles and the playground. We’ve done the art projects and legos and the spontaneous adventures. I’ve bootstrapped as many days as I can and I am spent. 

It’s cold. It rained for 800 days. I’m probably vitamin D deficient. My endorphins from running in the freezing cold aren’t holding me over anymore.

So, now, we’re on to the watching-Mickey-Mouse-Clubhouse-cuddled-under-the-blankets phase. We’re on to the mommy-reading-her-phone-while-the-kids-eat-cookies-in-the-pantry phase. We’re on to the creating-errands-to-run-so-they’re-buckled-in-the-car phase.

I wish I felt as nonchalant about it as I’m letting on, but I’m feeling both uninspired and super guilty about it. I need to be grateful, I need to present, I need to put on some pants that actually have zippers and pockets.

This week Beckett and I read The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. Peter, this iconic little boy that ventures into the beautiful snowy city in his red snowsuit. Peter, the first-ever black protagonist in a picture book, reminded me of something I needed this week. 

I NEED TO SIT AND CHAT WITH PETER’S MOM.

And, if I could, we would complain and laugh and compare notes about our wonderful, precious, hilarious, incorrigible children that just can’t seem help themselves:

• I wish mine could just entertain himself like that. Look at Peter making tracks. My kid would have been back inside five times already...

• Uh oh, he wants to snowball fight with those big kids. I can just see him thinking about it… You’re right, he’ll be fine.

• Should we go get eyes on them or do you think they’re okay? No? Cool.

• Oh my God, he brought a snowball in the house. No he did not.

So, I guess the antidote I need is some connection here. We’re not supposed to do this parenting thing in a bubble. 

But I can’t be the only one feeling stuck in mediocre parenting. 

I can’t be the only one feeling uninspired. 

I can’t be the only mom wondering if the kids will be alright if we just let them explore by themselves like Peter a little bit in the snow.

#thesnowyday

#ezrajackkeats