The Exhausting Maintenance of Good Habits
Everyone in my family has been ill for the past month or so. It feels like I've expelled gallons of fluids from my face and coughed my throat utterly ragged. So when today proved a rare lazy Sunday, all I really wanted to do was relax and try to convince my body to finally get better.
But I have two small children, and that complicates things. Even apart from the unending tasks that childcare comprises, I try my best to do more than the bare minimum. I don't want to let my son just sit on the couch and watch Bluey all day, or force my daughter to sit in the playpen so I don't have to expend the effort to make sure she doesn't get into mischief elsewhere in the house. I want to be better than that. America is deep in a terrifying literacy crisis, so I've been making myself read to them to the extent that my throat will allow. I made some alphabet flashcards for my older kid so he can start phonics early. I try to let my daughter roam about, even when that means I don't get to rest.
I want them to grow into curious, intelligent, active, and healthy kids. I can't let myself fail them this early. But being a decent parent is hard enough when you're not going through a whole box of tissues every day while your entire body is screaming at you to just let the damn kids watch TV. I've settled into a compromise where I'll let them watch an episode, but only after they read a book with me or go through some of their flashcards.
That's not too unreasonable, is it? They won't be ruined by this, will they? I can't just surrender and let them have an off day because we're all sick—we've all been sick for almost a month. I can't abrogate my responsibilities for that long.
Parenting is difficult. I hope they'll be okay.