Yep, this is where I’m at. The post-Christmas blues. I’m guessing I’m not the only one.

My oldest is out on a shopping date with her grandma.

Andy is at a coffee shop, putting boundaries around his work so that when he comes home he can be fully here, not worrying or thinking about work.

I’m home with a sick kid.

Our family is in that place where we’ve eaten too much sugar and what we’re craving is a really good salad or soup. But we’re pretty much out of fresh fruit and vegetables and need to go to the grocery store. But we don’t have the energy or motivation to go grocery shopping or to cook.

We’re in lazy, vacation mode. Which is great until it turns into depressed, isolated mode.

Vacation time is tricky. It’s hard to find the balance between our need for restful downtime and our need for community. We need days where we don’t set alarms or have an agenda. But those days can also get long and lonely.

As much as I love my family, I can only sleep in late and sit around in my pajamas watching movies with them for so long.

It’s time to get out of the house. I need fresh air, I need to see friends, I need to eat a healthy flavorful meal that I don’t have to cook. But with a sick kid, that’s probably not going to happen.

I addressed two of the above a few minutes ago when the sun was out. I took my sick boy outside with a stack of books, blankets, and two camping chairs. We read two stories in the fresh air and sunshine before we got too cold and came back in.

I saw three neighbors but only made eye contact and exchanged a wave with one of them. Oh well.

I guess we often can’t get all of our needs met in the same day. Maybe tomorrow my son will feel better so we can see some friends. For tonight, I’ll just have to console myself with Thai take-out and, perhaps, Little Women.