So my day off. Is it really a thing? Annual leave, in days or weeks, yes. Well maybe? Ad hoc, off the cuff days off, not so much. My day off started off with the school run, granted, more chilled than most, dressed in jeans and slipped on flip flops, even wore my PJ vest under my hoodie. Don’t judge. Then I head home and what happens? Housework happens. See, is it really a day off? I for one, as I know a lot of people do, find it beyond difficult to actually sit. Read. Chill. Do whatever I want to as it's my day off. Or supposed to be. It’s pointless fighting it, the housework and niggling chores get done and in all honesty, I do feel better for it. It’s not rushed, it’s laid back, it's fine and it's complete (well sort of) and it isn’t even lunch time. I then find myself opening the laptop and I hear a voice, my own voice, in my head say NO! Put it down! Surprisingly, I oblige. Before I know it, I’m three episodes into the box set I’ve been promising to watch for what feels like months. Bliss. I’m lounging, the place is tidy, there’s a quick batch cooked meal in the freezer from the weekend, ready to go with minimal effort once I collect my little one. This is what a day off is and I don’t want it to end for a while. I know the school pick up time is edging closer and there will be reading and homework to do and general entertainment to provide and this box set time will be a memory. I’m not ready for it.
Then I get a notification on my phone. It’s the We Are fetching app. A fetch request has been raised by one of my contacts and I think, can I? Shall I? And then I do. Along with my own school run, I click the fetch button and I agree to collect one of my son’s classmates while I’m at it to help someone out. Boxset is paused, snacks are prepped and off to the school I go. The class teacher gives me a knowing wave as the app has let her know I’m in charge today and calls both boys to the class door laden with bags. All of a sudden I’m the best daddy in the world! Yes, Tom is coming home to play this afternoon. Yes, of course he can see your great new toy grandma got for you the weekend and yes. I know I’m the coolest dad ever. The best part is this. Was it a purely selfless act collecting Tom from school when his parents needed help? No, not at all. The boys play lovely in the bedroom, I’m not the only source of conversation and entertainment for a while and the boxset resumes. Yes, the boxset resumes! This is a great day off. A couple of hours later, Tom’s mum knocks at the door, collects Tom and all is well. I now know, that when this day off (and it has actually been a day off) is done and I’m back to work, I know I can guilt free raise a fetch request and get help with my school pick up, from anyone of my trusted network, because I just earned the credits to be able to.
Fetching is the free app that helps you share childcare amongst your network of trusted friends and family. To change the way you manage your childcare, download the app today!