Chocolate Chip Friday

Originally uploaded by laundrylessons.

Remember when Fridays were all about going out? Finishing the week with the last class or last meeting meant it was time to forget about the week, meet friends, party, stay up late. My TGIF is big time different today. I stay home. I do laundry.

This used to bug me. Kids run home shrieking, “Yeah, it’s Friday.” I wake up thinking, “Oh, right, it’s Friday. Laundry time.” Where is the party in that? See I have to stay home with Merritt on Fridays. No aides or therapists come knocking, so it’s just me and my non-verbal, non-moving five year old. I used to get bugged by my entrapment, walking to the mailbox a few times just to know that I could leave the house if I wanted to. And of course facing my mountains of laundry isn’t the best way to start a weekend.

But with the start of Chocolate Chip Friday, I’ve changed my “I have to stay home” to “I get to stay home.” Yes, I’ve just whipped up a batch of cookies. I GET to make them. The kids have grown accustom to my new Friday ritual. But before they can lay their hands on the warm-from-the-oven goodness, I lick the bowl, I snack on the chips, I pick the biggest one straight from the oven and I eat it. It’s my Friday Happy Hour. What about a warm chocolate chip cookie isn’t happy?

Without Merritt to take care of on Fridays, I’d miss this new tradition. She’s shown me a bunch of stuff I’d miss. God uses that sneaky little girl to make me appreciate quiet days, snuggling, walking around the block and cookies. So, Thanks God, It’s Friday. Happy TGIF.