Ever do *nothing* all day?

[CherryBombMama]

Besides making sure the kids don't starve and kill each other?

I am really having one of those days.  I had to wash the diapers because otherwise, I would have a child peeing straight onto the floor, I made the bed JUST so I could comfortably sit on it, but other than that, I am pretty happy just hanging out with my computer while the boys sleep. 

Feels so good, just sitting here, drinking my coffee...  

I guess I will get to dinner eventually... 

EVENTUALLY 

[iowaorganic]

pretty much me today.  I did fold a load of laundry to clear off the couch, made bread- which did require some effort :) and made supper- not baked yet- but the oven is hot.  Pretty much a lazy day for me.  Glad I am not the only one having an issue with getting something done today.  Maybe I should make some coffee...  Not feeling too perky.

[lifeguard]

Today was one of those days but I d not feel good about it, just grumpy.

[Mummoth]

Well, sort of... I got the big kids off to school and then snuggled back in with the baby and read a book between nursings until about noon and that was really relaxing. But then I did the dishes, picked up the big kids and my after school care kid, made snacks and supper and washed more dishes. I would have had to do a load of laundry tonight but DH noticed the diaper pail was full when he changed the baby :) so I'm having a cup of tea instead.

[Masel]

I had a day like that too. My excuse is that I'm hugely pregnant and this past weekend was great but exhuasting. Today was my recovery day and the one thing I managed as well was to get the diapers in the wash. 

[Youngfrankenstein]

I love those days....they are nice to have once in awhile.  When the last Harry Potter book came out, I think I read for 2 days straight and did NOTHING!  My youngest was 5 and I just told them to eat whatever.  DH was out of town at the time.  I needed to know what happened!

[CherryBombMama]

Its nice to have a slow day, sometimes. And hey, at least it sounds like diapers have been getting washed 

[onyxravnos]

I totally have those days. On the rare day I have just the baby and no big kids I tend to do the minimum and watch SVU on netflix. :) 

I remember days where I was at work where I also did nothing but read my book all day. 

[VocalMinority]

Do-nothing days are important!

One year, when I was a single mom with young twins, I had a stomach flu on Christmas.  I make a big deal out of the holiday, for my kids, plus my whole family gathers at my house all day (parents, 3 siblings, significant others).  Family and friends (some in from out of town) are in and out, on Boxing Day.  That year, Christmas still managed to be good, but by Boxing Day I was just spent.  My stomach felt fine, but after everything I'd done the day before - when it didn't - I did not feel like doing anything.  So, even though people still stopped by and I welcomed them, I never got out of my PJs.  I ate (and offered people) leftovers from Christmas and food gifts people had given me.  But I didn't warm up anything or wash any dishes.  I washed no laundry, swept no floors and never left the house.  Literally, I just sat around.  It was a positively glorious day!

Since then, I plan not to get out of my PJs on Boxing Day, every year - and sometimes I look forward to Boxing Day almost more than Christmas!

My husband and I were married in this tiny, backwoods village that was purchased in its entirety, a few decades ago.  The old General Store became a restaurant and each of the little, old homes or barns was turned into a cottage you can rent for the night.  There are no TVs, no radios, no wi-fi, no cell phone service and no clocks!  Even though it's only about 1-1/2 hours from our house, we go back every year and stay for a night or two - without our 4 kids - for a do nothing break.  

That kind of thing would be nice to do by yourself, too - even if it were camping, instead of a B&B.

Edited by VocalMinority - 3/3/12 at 4:08am

[rosieb1]

lol, you guys are kidding right?  I read many of these posts and wonder if any of your have toddlers!  I am now TRYING to have a day once a week where I "do nothing" but I always end up doing things like Mummoth said.  On my day off I usually make breakfast, do dishes, change diapers just as much, sometimes wash diapers if needed, discipline just as much, make lunch (our meals are homemade due to food allergies, so no pop it in the microwave...), clean up the kitchen somewhat, naptime routine, then at naptime if I'm not tired I can have some freetime - but this is the same as any other day, make dinner (again from scratch).  I think the real difference is I'm not trying to keep on schedule, I might put in a few videos and/or spend more time with my boys due to not doing ALL of the regular duties.

[colemom]

I think "do nothing" is subjective. As your life changes, you have kids and kids get older, doing nothing has different meanings. A do nothing day for me now certainly looks different than one pre-kids or even when I only had one child. 

I have a 5.5 year old and a 2 year old. A "do nothing" day is on a weekend, so no school drop off and pick up and no classes or activities for my toddler. My dh's second job takes part of the weekend, but he is around to help more than during the week. A day without stressful errands, maybe a simple trip to the market by myself (which I enjoy) and no vacuuming, sweeping, wiping down the bathroom, super toy pick up, or other cleaning chores. 

I still have to prepare 3 meals and 2 snacks for the kids, change diapers, stay on top of dishes, bath time, clean up big toy messes and do a load of laundry if absolutely necessary (like diapers). I will probably make something simple for the kids for dinner and dh will pick something up for us after they go to bed. Also, dh is home to do bath and bedtime and take the kids to the park in afternoon.  

Yes, I am still doing things, but it is so much less than a typical day. A far cry from the days where I lounged around all day, watching tv and reading and truly accomplishing nothing. 

[OkiMom]

A "do nothing" day is definitely subjective. I have a 5 yo, a 3 yo and a 1 yo.. So, a "do nothing" day for me means I do no housework other than feeding the children/pets and doing dishes. Lately Ive had quite a few of those days since morning sickness is kicking my butt! But even when I feel good I wake up some mornings and feel like paying hooky so instead of doing my housework the kids and I will take off to play outside or build a fort or do whatever. To me it feel like I'm "doing nothing" because I'm not doing anything that feels like work.

[CherryBombMama]

OP here! I have two toddlers. 2.5yrs and 18months and I'm 34 weeks pregnant. When I mean "do nothing," I don't mean watching TV all day by myself. I just meant not going above and beyond to have an awesome, event filled day.  None of the usual arts and crafts, a fast bath instead of the usual long, drawn out one, simple meals, not anything new and difficult, etc, etc...

Originally Posted by rosieb1 

lol, you guys are kidding right?  I read many of these posts and wonder if any of your have toddlers!  I am now TRYING to have a day once a week where I "do nothing" but I always end up doing things like Mummoth said.  On my day off I usually make breakfast, do dishes, change diapers just as much, sometimes wash diapers if needed, discipline just as much, make lunch (our meals are homemade due to food allergies, so no pop it in the microwave...), clean up the kitchen somewhat, naptime routine, then at naptime if I'm not tired I can have some freetime - but this is the same as any other day, make dinner (again from scratch).  I think the real difference is I'm not trying to keep on schedule, I might put in a few videos and/or spend more time with my boys due to not doing ALL of the regular duties.

[rosieb1]

lol, i like that "truly accomplishing nothing"

[Honey693]

We have those days (more often than we should b/c pregnancy is kicking my butt).  The kids can watch more tv than normal so I can zone out for a bit with a book and some coffee and we stay in pjs alllll day.  

[*bejeweled*]

I love "do nothing days" and try to make myself do them. I even record them in my journal.

[Snapdragon]

I am having a day like that today but it isn't that fun- I just feel lazy- ds is napping thank goodness but we had a really dull morning- we didn't do anything and ds and I Were both grumpy and a little cranky. I try to have fun and do activities that inspire both me and ds as often as I can but today I just feel burnt out. We only have one ds but we never have a babysitter- just me and dh passing him back and forth (dh's mom occasionally takes ds for an hour) so I just got burnt out today- feel kind of blah. time to find a babysitter so dh and I can get a little refreshed. But yeah, so far a do nothing day.

[Alasen]

I love do-nothing days! Sadly having one today, but not in a good way. I'm going looney toons today and just don't have the energy/focus/mentality to do much today. I can tell all 3 kids sense it too. DfD is nervous and agitated for the same reason I am, the little girls I think have picked up on the vibe and have been at each other's throats since they got up, which is beyond unusual for them.

I'm going to try to lighten things up and turn the day around. My nephew is going to babysit for a little bit so that I can take DfD out of a nice trail ride and spend some time doing something happy rather than worrying about the meeting with her legal family tomorrow.

[*bejeweled*]

Today's been kinda a do nothing day. I've vegged a lot. But I have to go to the grocery store, so I guess I have to do something. Hmmmph.

[WittyNameHere]

Sometimes I feel like this is every. single. day. It seems like I get up, beg the 3 yo to eat, try to get the 14 mo to not eat the 3yo's breakfast, say "no/don't do that/stop hitting her/stop hitting him/don't ride the cat/stop trying to climb the bookcase/don't ride your sister/don't leapfrog the cat/STOP!STOP!STOP" a jillion times, do the dishes with the kids, watch the same Dinosaur Train episode 3 times in a row, and then my husband gets home. I feel like every day is a do nothing day -- and being in a basement apartment with no yard, no parks within walking distance, and no transportation options compound the feeling. But the kids aren't emaciated, the 3yo is learning new words, and the 14mo can put the star shape in the star hole, so something beneficial is happening, right?