Homebody Problems

I’ve always been a bit of a homebody. I’ve always enjoyed lounging in comfy clothes reading a book and drinking a cup of tea. I’ve always enjoyed hanging in my house or my bedroom watching TV, reading or writing.

When I was a kid I loved to sit in my room and play Barbie’s even if it was sunny out. Even if it was a gorgeous day I loved being inside. And I love rainy days. I have to admit that when it’s sunny out for too long, I crave a dreary day just so I have the excuse to stay in and do nothing.

I don’t come from a family of homebodies and for the most part you will rarely find my parents at home. They are always on the go, always outside if they can be, always doing something.

When I was young they would pester me to play outside and not sit in side on a beautiful day. And god forbid you suggest something that is an “indoor activity” when it’s sunny and 60 outside. It’s too beautiful to be inside.

And yet there are days when it is perfectly gorgeous out and all I want to do is curl up on my couch and read a book. Or draw the curtains and lay in bed and watch movies. Sometimes I just want to be in my house. And now even as an adult on those days when I feel the urge to just sit inside, I feel guilty about it as if I should be out doing something anything, riding my bike in circles or playing outside or doing something, anything other than what I’m doing.

And while I may not come from homebodies I am currently raising one. Because Jackson so has my homebody tendencies. I know that after a couple of days out of the house he is going to want to stay home all day. I know that when he doesn’t feel 100% he won’t want to go anywhere. I know that even the suggestion of a favorite park or playground won’t be enough to draw him away from his toys if he hasn’t had a full day at home in awhile. I know it when he says, “I just want to stay home today” or “mommy I love being at home with you”.

I know all these things and yet I push. When the sun is shining and he suggests a movie, I suggest the park. When he wants to build a tent, I reply that’s a rainy day activity. When he drags me inside on a sunny day I feel guilty that we are indoors. When I plan us a week of fun activities and after 3 days he’s doesn’t want to do it anymore, I kick myself for not getting it, for not knowing that like me he
 needs his down time. He needs his days at home. That neither of us function very well when it’s go, go, go.

That there are days when we both need to be home, that time at home playing with toys or lounging on the couch or reading books needs to be part of our schedule. That playing inside and staying in our pajamas is perfectly OK. We both have homebody tendencies and that is perfectly OK.