Duvet Days

Before these "days" were given this accepted name - we were doing them. 


Not often. Probably only a couple of days a year as the kids grew older, but just those days when you need a DAY !


Now, when I say we ...... I do mean the children and me. This blog will not be popular with those in authority because ...... yes .......... I allowed the children to have a day or two off school !!!


Now - let's get this in perspective - it started 18 years ago with Jess's first year in the 4 plus unit. Of course at that point in my life I really did have every excuse going (having just been widowed), to have one of those days when I could not get up and organised. Then again, I did not really have to - with Gina and Dan not even at pre-school ! 


I would wake up (particularly in the bad weather of winter) and just not WANT to DO anything! 


Thankfully, even at such young ages, my children were mega film fans - Disney of course!


So I would settle us all on the sofa, prepare snacks and drinks, and we would snuggle up together with the duvet across us, to watch 3 or 4 videos for the whole day! Bliss !!


Of course I would feel a little guilty afterwards and think about the things we could have got done in the day, or that the children may have learned at school but, you know ....... I really do not think it has done them any harm !!!


As they grew older and all of them were at school it happened less and less. 


However - again let me get this in perspective - they were hardly ever ILL !!! Honestly, my 3 generally had healthy robust constitutions - not many colds, rarely sick and I only recall having to pick them up from school early a couple of times!


Another couple of things to remember is also that, with this understanding (that I would allow Duvet days), came the responsibility on them of NOT faking it - I am sure they probably did pull the wool over my eyes a couple of times but genuinely ..... if they wanted a day they would ask for this "duvet" day and, depending on circumstances I would usually grant it - it worked for us. It gave us as a family a lot more openness and honesty than those that fake a sickie. 


It probably helped that we were all BIG fans of "Ferris Buellers Day Off" so I knew all the tricks anyway LOL !!!


Now the girls are at work and have an excellent work ethic - Dan has yet to find employment but has only been looking since beginning of September choosing to have a good "last" summer  before starting work.


So I am a big fan of a couple of days a year being allocated as "Duvet days" ..... you feel naughty enough to work extra hard the next day but you are healthy enough not to have lost a day sick! It may not work for everyone but it did for us!


And believe me - when you have precious moments snuggled up with your children ..... laughing, crying, interacting with a good film ..... it really doesn't get much better!