White Dog thought Steve was joking when he announced late this morning that he wasn't going in to work. He wasn't coughing or leaving piles of tissue everywhere. He ate breakfast. In fact, he and YoYoMa even went for an early morning walk.
Quinn sniffed Steve's forehead; there was no fever. Puff sniffed his eyeballs and found everything OK there, too. "What gives?" asked White Dog, not sure whether to be concerned or to get excited about the prospect of having Steve home an extra day.
"The coffee is not sitting very well," Steve began. "My system feels kind of stressed out so I am going to take a Mental Health Day, stay home and not push myself." The White Dog Army let out a howl of happiness and immediately started making plans for Steve's time.
"Whoa, gang! Let's allow dad to sort go with the flow and do what he feels like doing," I suggested. "No matter what that is, you will have him all day and we will be together, but this is a day for him."
The WDA supervised as he did a bit of school reading (the Ethics of Internet Security), then all took a nap to digest the information. They helped as Steve, the organized one, did an inventory of the contents of our freezers to help with future meal planning...and in the process, discovered an entire package of round beef bones that had been stashed in the deep freezer. The boys, Quinn, Yo, and Oso, helped with a bit of physical labor as Steve did a some trimming and raking in the yard and the girls, WD, Nuka and Puff, oversaw the vacuuming of the van's interior. WD and Steve developed some new strategies to improve the slow growth of her herb seedies.
Then it was duck jerky time for the Army and a snack for Steve, followed by a nap in the most perfect part of the day... when the warm late afternoon sun filters into the living room and the ceiling fan creates just enough breeze to make one want to snuggle.
It made me smile to see the relaxed look on the sleeping Steve's face with WD tucked in the crook of his legs and Puff, Nuka and Quinn lying against the couch below him. By the hearth Oso and YoYoMa were curled together as Oso gentle snored.
I could feel mental health improving throughout the room with every soft breath.
6 comments:
Sounds like a fun day was had by all. Good stuff. Glad Steve took the day off.
That sounds like the most excelent mental health day EVER! Glad it worked out so that everyone received the benefits. :)
Those mental health days are good for everyone!!!
Howdy White Dog Army. So glad you took care of your Dad and helped him get his mentals back in order. Our sissy is an Emergency Nurse and sometimes she needs a day to relax at home too! Take care all and here's some soothing slobber for Steve. It helps when massaged into the shoulders, get ready ...........gotcha. It's kinda gross and good at the same time hehe. See ya mates. No worries, and love, Stella and Rory
Sounds like a perfect way to de stress.. Glad you all enjoyed the peaceful day. Hugs GJ xx
And to think they used to call this
malingering!
Here is to MHDays!
Jo
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