Monday notoriously gets a bad wrap. It has long played the role of most dreaded day of the week. There’s at least a million shirts, coffee mugs and memes that proclaim the sadness of Monday. But you know what I’ve realized? I like Monday. I mean, I really like it—it could be one of my favorites. Before you call me crazy, let me tell you why.
It’s All In The Mind
I think Monday first started growing on me when I changed the way I thought about it. Much like the friend that evolved into the boyfriend, Monday snuck up on me and I realized, he had a lot of charm and appeal. I started to view Monday in a different way—I took him out of the friend zone. I began to appreciate the hope that Monday offered. Monday is a new start, a new beginning, maybe it’s even a re-do depending how your previous week went down. Whatever happened last week or last month or last night, Monday brings a new chance. It’s a logical place to evaluate and re-group. That’s why everyone starts their healthy eating/workout/no caffeine/ dairy free/insert your favorite resolution on a Monday—it’s the beginning. The beginning of whatever you want it to be. It may be the beginning of a week filled with back to back meetings or travel or it may offer you beautiful open spaces in your calendar. When you sit down and look at Monday, you’re deciding what kind of a week you’re going to have. No matter if it promises to be a grueling one with challenges or an easy one, you get to look it in the eye and make a plan.
Back Where We Belong
Please don’t misunderstand, I love the weekend. The weekend is my jam. I will have to dedicate another post to accurately describe how much I truly love the weekend. However, if you have small people the weekend is not always what I would call “relaxing.” If you’re like me, on the weekend you have three people attending five different sports, a birthday party, completing a science project and trying to fit in as much video game time as humanly possible without your knowledge. You may also have family dinners, church or community obligations and perhaps you have (GASP!) your own social engagements. My point is the weekend is full throttle. Everyone is in your face all of the time. They need to be driven places, fed, picked up from places, fed again—it’s exhausting! Yes, you hopefully get to fit in some fun and some down time, but sometimes the weekend leaves me happy to see…you guessed it, my old pal, Monday!
Monday rolls around and everyone goes back to their perspective posts (read: school) where they stay for at least six hours. This then enables me to focus on the things that I need/want to get done. The first thing I usually do on Monday morning is to sift through the rubble that is currently passing as my home. Because these people are all over and everywhere through the weekend, no matter how many times I pick things up or make them pick things up the “things” are everywhere. I don’t even understand how it happens, it’s like Gremlins—things just multiply. I no sooner pick up a towel, when two more magically appear. It’s very defeating and there’s so much cooking and driving (see above) that I usually just forget it until they’ve all returned to their places of business. So, Monday is an opportunity to restore order—that’s a win.
All About Me
OK, it’s not really all about me, but a little. The weekend is spent primarily focused on my family. Monday allows me to bring the focus back to me. I get a chance to focus on what I need to get done for work. I have an opportunity to sit and make phone calls that are not possible when you are surrounded by the small people. It is the opportunity to focus on some of the things that remind me that I am an adult person independent of my family. Don’t get me wrong, I love my people, they’re the best. But sometimes mamma needs to sit quietly and speak with adults. I’ll still be doing my mom job—I’ll have to scour Amazon to source ridiculous requests, switch someone’s orthodontist appointment and try to find a cardboard box suitable for a talent show skit (true story). I just get to do these things, alone.
Alone is magical. It’s not that I don’t love my family. I just like to hang out with myself. Even it is working, sourcing nonsensical items, or folding laundry—there’s something peaceful about being alone in this hectic middle space. The business of raising humans doesn’t stop, it’s twenty-four hours a day, full-on in your face—it’ kind of sounds like a cage fight…hmm. Sometimes it’s OK to want a minute of quiet. It’s OK to love thinking about something else whether it’s work or your next great novel or what The Real Housewives are up to this week. Not only is it OK, it’s important. It’s important that you allow yourself time to be you.
So, Monday, you handsome devil, welcome back! I’m so happy to see you. We begin again, you and me. We get to figure out the craziness that is this life for the next seven days. We get to restore a little order, make some new plans, see what life has in store for us this week. Thanks for the love, Monday. I’m sorry I didn’t see it earlier, but we truly are a good match.