Pajama Day
by: Joelle Charbonneau
My son loves preschool and for good reason. He gets to hang around with people his size, play games, do arts and crafts, sing songs, read books and get snacks all during a 2 ½ hour period. It makes me want to go to preschool. Molding Playdough sounds soothing.
Occasionally, the preschool has a special dress up day. Last semester it was, of course, Halloween. This semester they will celebrate pajama day. This Thursday, all the tots have been asked to come to school in their PJs. They are even invited to bring their favorite stuffed animal friend. Yes, I am totally jealous.
I mean, as writers we get kidded a lot about not having to get out of our pajamas. We can get up and walk over to our job without ever having to brush our teeth or get out of our footie pajamas. How cool is that, right? (Well, aside from the not brushing our teeth part. I mean, who really wants to go around all day with morning breath? That’s just icky.) I am almost embarrassed to admit that in my adult writing life I have never spent the day in my pajamas. (Yes, I am hanging my head in shame.) Every day I get dressed in my typical uniform of jeans and a sweatshirt (because it is winter folks and I am COLD), march the tot downstairs and go about the business of my mommy and writing life.
Why? Do I have an aversion to pajamas? Do I think I’m too good for them?
Ha! No way. I love the comfort of my PJs. But that’s the problem. They’re comfortable. Not to say my jeans and sweatshirts aren’t, but they’re “getting stuff done” clothes not “preparing to be unconscious” ones. The minute I put my PJs on my brain loses focus. I start thinking about what I should read before turning the lights out and what things I need to get done the next day. Chapter hooks and character development goes right out the window.
Which makes me wonder if I’m the only one that has this problem. I mean, do you lose all ability to “work” when you put your pajamas on? And if I’m not the only one, I have to admit I’m a bit concerned for the preschool teachers this week. I’ll have to let you know how pajama day turns out!
Oh, I love staying in jammies all day to write! When I'm in the last few weeks of deadline, I do that a lot. Most other days, I do end up putting on something else, like yoga pants and a T-shirt. But I think my brain writes best in jammies, which is probably why I do some of my most creative writing in the middle of the night! 🙂
I'm exactly the same way. I have to get up, shower, and get dressed in my uniform: jeans, turtleneck and clogs. If I don't, I just can't get started properly. The problem with pj's or sweatpants, too, is that they are so comfortable that you can't tell when your waistline is expanding. That's another reason I insist on wearing jeans every day; they keep me honest. Great post, Joelle! Maggie
Maybe it's a cultural thing. I have never seen a Mom in America do the school drop off in her PJ's, however, I have seen it in England, although that was many years ago. There again, driving to school and tossing your children out of the car is quite different from parking and then walking your children into school. Maybe we could try it once a year on the same day that the children have PJ day and then we'd just be joining in.
I subscribe to the Flylady.net mailing list, and one of the keys to her program of completing your routines every day is to get "dressed to lace-up shoes." The idea is that when we're barefoot, or in jammies, or otherwise super casual and comfy, we're less likely to feel motivated and more apt to let things slide, procrastinate, or feel resentful for having chores to do when we're "relaxing." Though I work a full-time job and have to get dressed to shoes every day, I do try to *change* shoes instead of just kicking mine off or putting on slippers when I get home, because there is still plenty that requires motivation in the last hours of the day! Fun post 🙂
Susan, I am jealous that you can work in your PJs. I'm thinking I might use Kristen's thought and wear shoes with my PJs and see if that works. Of course, I tend to enjoy going barefoot, so I might not adapt well. Here's hoping.
Maggie – Ha! I knew we were kindred souls. Perhaps we should declare one day PJ day and compare notes to see if either of us get anything done.
Maddy – perhaps I will get the other Moms to do PJ day next year. I'm a little baffled that PJ day is in the middle of January since we live near Chicago and it is a little chilly for going outside in our PJs, but hey – we'll make it work!