No Sad Songs

~Niko Moon

After we cleaned everything up, we all laid around the living room, and watched a movie. Everybody else took a nap, but I wasn’t sleepy. Later, Jackie and I did a little bit of online “Black Friday” shopping. I found a few great deals on gifts for my kids. Then, Justin, Jackie, Adam, our kids, and I sat down and played a couple games of “Clue”. After that, we played Phase 10. Jackie and I picked out a music playlist, from way back when. The years from about 2005-2010 have their own playlist, for us. There’s Nickelback, SHINEDOWN, Pop Evil, and Rehab’s “Sittin’ at a Bar”, among many others. There was a lot of reminiscing, laughing, and way off key singing along. We ended up staying up way too late! It was nearly 2:00am, before we went to bed. It was another perfect Thanksgiving, though.

This morning, I woke up around 7:45am. Adam was still sleeping soundly, beside me. I decided to just lay there, and enjoy the ability to stay cozy in bed. It was almost 10:00am, when we finally got up. The kids all slept until closer to noon. We’re all spending this Friday being lazy at home. We’re going to have a family movie night, tonight. Adam’s been watching football, this afternoon. I’ve been downstairs, watching corny Christmas movies. I’m thinking of going upstairs, and changing out of the jeans I’ve got on, into my comfy cashmere leggings. It’s 50 degrees, outside, but it sure feels chilly today. I can’t seem to get warmed up.

Tomorrow, I’m planning to cut Adam and Justin’s hair, for them. They’re both looking pretty shaggy, these days. Wyatt won’t let me cut his hair. He wants to keep growing it out. I’d like to at least trim it for him, but it’s not an issue I’m willing to bicker with him over. I’ve always let my kids style their hair however they liked to. They can wear the clothes they want, so long as they’re appropriate. Although, that’s never been a problem. Mikayla was, and still is, my “girly girl”. She wore skirts and dresses, tiaras, and plenty of accessories, when she was little. In preschool, I had another little girl’s mom tell me that her daughter had come home one day, and asked her to “Please be like MiKayla’s mom. MiKayla’s mom let’s her wear dresses everyday. So, please mama, be more like MiKayla’s mom.” I thought that was the cutest (and funniest) thing! I so enjoy letting my children show me who they are. I never want them to feel they need to be a certain way, to gain my approval. I want them to have confidence and pride in being themselves. So long as they’re not endangering themselves or others, they should be free to express themselves. That’s how I think, anyway.

I think I am going to go and get these blue jeans off, so I can get comfortable, and snuggle myself in for our movie night.