wait and play

In Chicago, on a bizarrely warm day. (High of 64F/18C in Chicago, and 67F/19.5C -- a December record in Madison.) Here, awaiting the birth of a new grandchild.

 

By the time Primrose wakes up this morning (and she wakes up early!), the parents have already checked into the hospital. The day, therefore, belongs to just Primrose and me.

 

Breakfast, just the two of us.

 

Since she has been out of school for a week (closure, due to Covid), I wondered if she would be tired of playing all day in her same old house.

She is not.

Primrose is a leader and I was not surprised that she has ideas as to what we should do.

Let's play messy house! -- was her first suggestion. Talking her out of this required brain work, though in fact, Primrose's idea of a "messy house" is pretty close to my idea of "house in order." My initial panic (what if my younger daughter returns home from the hospital to find everything in the wrong place??) was somewhat mollified.

Primrose allows her imagination to carry her forward. Everything is merely a stepping stone toward a vignette out of school or a home. We act out the various personalities encountered there: mom, dad, teacher, student. Shifting sands, shifting stories.

Too, we read. She has her favorites. Some, but not all, are about Christmas.

 

(while she naps...)

In the afternoon I virtually push her out of the house for a walk. I mean, we are setting records here in the Midwest! No way should we skip an outing.

Crazy warm! Where is this air coming from? Scooting in a light sweatshirt, through gusty winds and past Christmas lights: memorable!

This calls for a gingerbread cookie upon the return home. From Clasen's in Madison!

 

We eat a quiet dinner of stuff I sautee for the two of us. You feel the wait most of all in the evenings. Maybe tomorrow we'll wake up to some good news!