(Not) Labor Day

Happy Labor Day!

Or if you live in my neck of the woods, happy Regular Monday on which Grown-Ups Still Work and Kids Still Attend School!

I recognize Labor Day as a day to celebrate the achievements of our American Workforce, and to be honest, it really bums me out that neither my husband's university nor my son's public elementary school recognize today as a holiday.

And because today is not a holiday for my husband or son, today is not a holiday for me either. No, I don't have to go into an office (though I do have multiple writing projects, three loads of laundry, and two errands to tackle this morning; a workout to squeeze in this afternoon; and a karate lesson for Will and Parent Orientation for Hallie's preschool on the calendar for this evening), but who do you think wakes up early to make sure everyone else won't sleep through their alarm clocks and then packs lunches, checks backpacks, makes breakfast, approves outfits, brushes hair, checks teeth, and gets everyone out the door on time? My days may not revolve around the kind of labor the holiday originally celebrated, but they're jam-packed and somewhat labor-intensive none-the-less.

So for those of you who, as a result of your geographic location or type of employment (a special thanks to those who work on the days the rest of us consider holidays), won't spend today driving home from a glorious three-day vacation or enjoying one last day at the beach or even just relaxing at home with your family, here are a few suggestions on how to make today a little less laborious:

• Sleep in, if even for just five minutes. Though now that I think about it, if you're reading this you're probably already awake and therefore past the opportunity to sleep in. Oops! Catch a power nap instead, maybe while your kids eat breakfast or brush their teeth...those activities take at least 20 minutes each at my house, and sometimes I fall sleep standing up, with my head resting on my arms and my arms resting on the kitchen counter. I should really go to bed earlier...
• Treat yourself to a fancy coffee. If your normal routine includes brewing yourself a cup of hot coffee at home, stop on the way to work or school or the gym to pick up a cup of joe - or maybe even a white chocolate mocha or a pumpkin spice latte - that someone else makes for you.  
• Take a break during the day to do something small but significant for yourself: go for a walk, read a book, email a friend, or fit in that nap.
• Unless you love to do it and have the time, skip cooking dinner and go out. Or better yet, bring home dinner or have dinner delivered and enjoy it curled up on your couch with a good book or an entertaining movie.
• Put the kids to bed early, and then go to bed early yourself - you deserve a little extra rest!

Happy Labor Day to all those who work - both outside and inside the home - to make our country a worthwhile place to call home.