When Tony got home from work the other day he made an incredibly kind comment to me. “You look so pretty, dressed nice and everything and here you are stuck inside this house all day. I’m sorry.”
I was thankful for the compliment, but I told him he needn’t be sorry.
“Oh, I’ve traveled thousands of miles away from this house today, without even leaving our street. Don’t worry about me. I do get out.”
He asked me what I meant by that. You might be asking the same thing.
Perhaps it’s because I’m an introvert that I can handle staying at home all day. Or perhaps it’s because I’ve gotten better at taking time for myself when I need it, so I’m not so drained. Or perhaps it’s because I’m doing better at believing our home and my days can be as adventurous as I desire them to be. In the evenings, before I go to bed, if I can manage to put even a small inkling of thought into what tomorrow will hold, the days go so much better.
This particular day was packed with all sorts of fun. Reading Around the World in 80 Days. Studying and drawing and talking about the globe, coloring, reading Ramona Quimby, exercising, playing the piano and the guitar, making food, playing with neighbors. We had done so much adventuring my day felt extremely full. I felt like I had explored all sorts of places and it was almost a shock when I realized, from Tony’s comment, that I didn’t leave the house.
I have dreams of traveling. Of going to distant countries and seeing things I’ve never seen. Of sharing that with my family. Of tasting food different than what I’m used to, seeing people different than what I’m used to, hearing music different than what I’m used to, seeing architecture and landscapes different than what I’m used to. But until those dreams become financially possible, I must rely on books and imagination to carry my kids and me far, far away.
In my mind, I do get out. All the time.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I LOVE this post Mandy. It is so true. Our entire outlook depends on whether or not we feel cooped up and stuck at home, or if we make it just as exciting if not more exciting than going ou. LOVED THIS.
This post and the two previous make my heart so happy! I love reading about the sweet things you and your children do, and I look forward to the day when I get to have days like yours.
My friend showed me some children’s books she got for Christmas (she and I both have an almost-obsession with picture books), and one of them made me think of you immediately. It is called Elephants Cannot Dance! by Mo Willems. Actually I am kind of falling in love with all of Willems’s books that I have read, but I think you guys would really like this one. It’s very “Ish”.
So sweet. Love this post. Thanks for the perspective-shift…I need a swift kick every now and then.
I feel the same way- and I just read Around the World in 80 Days recently! Are you reading it to your kids?
Katie – we love mo willems but haven’t read that one.
Vanessa – I didn’t read it to my kids, but did end up re-telling the story to them. So cool you read it too!