[saturday]
6:36 am
If you spent the night at my house on a Friday and woke to the day with us the next morning, you would probably either laugh... or cry. As the light started streaming in and the sound of small feet slapping against hard boards filled my room today, I was feeling like everyone had slept in, including myself. Then I looked at the clock in the kitchen. It was still before 6. At this point you may have cried.
It was okay though. If coffee gets made everything looks better.
Because of this Wendell Berry
book I'm reading, we started talking over breakfast about work... it's importance, the way we look at it in our modern culture, how the work of the home gets marginalized and degraded (for both men and women) and ultimately even avoided. We started talking about the importance of a clean home and how we sometimes avoid that work too or try to find ways to make ourselves feel better about not doing it. In today's circles we talk about things like trying to be free of the "pressure of perfection" or letting people see us "as we are."
book I'm reading, we started talking over breakfast about work... it's importance, the way we look at it in our modern culture, how the work of the home gets marginalized and degraded (for both men and women) and ultimately even avoided. We started talking about the importance of a clean home and how we sometimes avoid that work too or try to find ways to make ourselves feel better about not doing it. In today's circles we talk about things like trying to be free of the "pressure of perfection" or letting people see us "as we are."This conversation was made entirely possible, by the way, because of that cup of coffee.
The result of having a conversation about work and home this early on a Saturday morning? Everyone had their chores completed and our entire house was cleaned up by 7:20 am. That is the part you hopefully would have laughed at. I did.
I want to have that kind of conversation at my breakfast table! Or anytime would be fine! If you're interested in reading more about the nature of work, you might also enjoy "Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry into the Value of Work" By Matthew Crawford. I have it to lend.
ReplyDeleteIf it makes you feel any better, our morning routine sounds similar to yours...even on Saturdays! We've been up for hours and hours, done all our chores, bathed, dressed, eaten....and it's 8:30am....
ReplyDeleteI also can't imagine facing any of this homey bliss without my cup of coffee in the morning. Jay knows not even to try to talk to me beforehand.
I have an easy recipe for "dinner pancakes" by the way, if you are interested. It's not mine...I got it out of Real Simple. Maybe I'll go post it on FB. But it's easy and good. And picky eaters (Abigail) will eat them.
Love,
E