A Day of Snuggling

Last updated on: January 11, 2015 at 5:42 pm by Calah Alexander

A Day of Snuggling 2015-01-11T17:42:08-05:00 Calah Alexander

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Today was sort of a strange day. We were all feeling a little under the weather, so we spent most of the day just laying around. While Sienna was at school this morning, the Ogre pointed out to me that Charlotte had fallen asleep on the couch. She looked so small and alone laying there, leaning her head against the arm of the big couch that I found myself scooping her up and snuggling down into the couch cushions with her curled up against my side. She slept through the transition and I lay on the couch, with the cool breeze from the open window sweeping across us and watched the dust motes float through the sunbeams. I fell asleep quickly and awoke empty-armed to the Ogre telling me that I had slept for an hour. Charlotte was happily playing in the background, refreshed by her impromptu nap. I, however, felt like a truck had hit me, so a few hours later while the girls ate lunch I grabbed the sleepy, cranky baby and repeated my performance from the morning. The breeze was a little warmer, the sun a little brighter and the companion significantly less sweaty, but it was still a pleasant little catnap, punctuated by sweet peanut buttery kisses from adoring sisters.

After lunch the Ogre laid down for a nap, hoping to get rid of a headache brought on by sleeplessness last night, and while Liam slumbered away in his swing I tried to put the girls down for a nap. Although Sienna was asleep in seconds Charlotte refused, probably due to her morning nap, so I took her to our bed and nestled her in between the Ogre and I and sang her a few whispered lullabies. She rolled over after a few minutes and pressed her little cheek against the Ogre’s arm, wrapping one chubby little arm around his big forearm, and fell asleep.

I carefully got up and went into the living room. I looked at the assortment of socks and shoes and blankets littered across the carpet, interspersed with the occasional sippy cup, toy and string cheese remnant. I thought of the dryer and the clean clothes within, the dishwasher waiting to be unloaded, Liam in his swing, Charlotte snuggled up with the Ogre, and Sienna sleeping alone in her big bed. Then I turned around, walked down the hallway and quietly crept into bed next to my firstborn. She rolled over, looked at me with wide eyes, smiled, wrapped her arms around my neck and fell back asleep in an instant. I lay there, dozing occasionally, praying occasionally, and generally just letting my thoughts wander for an hour until Liam woke up.

It’s not often that I ignore housework in favor of doing nothing. Usually if the house is messy there’s a good reason for it; perhaps the day had been particularly cooking-heavy, or perhaps I had been running errands or on a playdate. I really can’t remember the last time I chose just laying with my children over housework (um, when I wasn’t pregnant). It was nice, and different, to spend time with each of them individually, time that wasn’t allotted to reading, working on letters, going for a walk, or doing anything at all. Of course I’ve often held my sleeping children in my arms but I don’t think I’ve ever before spent a day doing nothing but that. No one was truly sick, no one was injured or sad…we all just needed to snuggle. And it was wonderful.

Uncategorized

motherhood

Previous Post

November 7, 2010

The Saturday Evening Blog Post

Next Post

November 12, 2010 One More Important Lesson Gleaned from Watching a Child Excrete Bodily Fluids

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 April 2016 March 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz