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Boring Day

I told the boys it was gonna be a boring day, and I meant it in a good way.

We just came out of a pretty exciting three-day weekend. Saturday was kindergarten sports day. Sunday cousin Yuzuki came over to play and we took the bus to Izumi Chuo and saw a Sendai Vegalta match at Yurtec Stadium. Monday we went to the planetarium. For goodness sake.

Today I had to go back to work and Eri had an appointment in the afternoon. I told the boys it was going to be boring, but that boring is good. They think boring is boring, which is perfectly natural. I'm not going to force my way of thinking on them. They're little boys. Boring is boring. Kenzo despises nap time because, as he says it, "Sleeping is boring."

And he's right. It is.

I know they won't get it for a long time, and that's okay.

Boring days are good, though. Boredom is fertile soil where seeds get planted. It's where you just sit and twiddle your thumbs and gaze out the window or lay on the living room floor and stare at the ceiling or make random mischief with household items.

When you're engaged in activities you're having an amazing time and forget everything except the thing you are doing. When you're bored you are fully aware of time, agitated by the tedium, and yearn for the next thing to excite you.

That's the important part. The yearning. The awareness. That's the place where imagination grows and plans are made. No one makes plans while they're sailing. You're sailing for goodness sake. You make plans when you're stuck inside on a rainy day.

Eri took off for her appointment just after the boys had settled in for a nap. I was in my upstairs office working. All was quiet. Then came the rumble. Kenzo was climbing down from his top bunk. He came in to my work room while I was in a meeting and goofed around behind me on a Zoom call.

Then Osamu woke up. I got them snacks and they set about playing in the living room while I resumed my work duties.

I keep the door to my office open so I can hear if there's trouble downstairs. Around 4 p.m. I went down to check and see how they were doing. The floor was covered in toys and both Kenzo and Osamu were sprawled out staring at the ceiling.

"Hey, guys!" I said.

No response.

"You guys thirsty?"

I grabbed a cup, filled it with water, and set it on the dining table.

"If you guys get thirsty here's some water."

I was starting to head back up when Kenzo suddenly asked, "Can we watch TV?"

They were done with boredom and climbed up on the couch to binge watch PJ Masks until mama got home.

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