A Break from Reality

I’m nearing the end of my first “vacation” from work—a full three days away from the law firm where I spend my days. Feels like a brave move when you work in an office where each and every move you make matters for some reason or another.

I’ve been in Los Angeles the past couple of days, staying at the home of a close college friend. Today I spent the afternoon at my cousins’ house in Santa Monica. It’s always a funny yet comfortable feeling when you show up at someone’s house, a place where you haven’t been in years, and still feel completely at ease and comfortable.

I spent a good chunk of my afternoon sitting on a second grader’s bunk bed brushing American Girl doll hair. My playdate, a seven year old sweetheart, popped open her book on doll hair, tossed me a pouch of scrunchies and coached me step by step how to complete the dolls’ hairstyles.

“Now divide the hair into two sections and separate them with hair ties,” she instructed.

“Done, and NOW look how silly she looks!” I answered with a giggle.

My little friend laughed uncontrollably. A doll with ridiculous hair apparently just can be hysterical.

“Did you know that I’ve been hit by a car twice in the past two months?” he older brother, a ten year old, chimed in.

Sure he was joking, I laughed it off, only to believe it moments later when he showed me his scar that resulted from five stitches to the hand. But of course his sister kept chatting away about how great it was that the doll had a green elastic next to a pink bow in her hair.

And I realized, just as we started writing letters to the dolls on a white board, you know, pretending we were their teachers, that a trip to childhood can hit the spot. Sometimes we don’t need an extravagant vacation overseas or an intense spa treatment weekend to relax. Maybe hearing the giggle of a child—one that you precipitated—can be the best break from routine.

Sit on the floor beside a child. Serve baby dolls tea. Listen to ten year olds and absorb what they have to say. You’d be surprised at how worthwhile paying attention to kids can be—not even for them, but for you.

XOXO,
R.