Robe O’Clock
In the beginning of this pandemic, my loving husband bought me a new robe. This was right around the time when it seemed like everyone was getting robes as gifts—comfort in the face of a seemingly never-ending pandemic.
This robe, or house coat*, as I call it, if I’m feeling like the 75-year-old version of myself, has become a bit of a security blanket. When I’m cold, I put it on—and the sherpa-like inside envelopes my exhausted body while the flannel outside provides a warmth only found when tied tightly around my waist. When I’m feeling a bit spry, and more like the 40-something, cough, cough, year old woman that I am, I call it a robe. This robe is by no means an item that makes me in any way attractive. In reality, it’s a hideous item that I spilled egg yolk on last week.
BUT-what has made me LOVE this robe even more is the discovery that other mothers, just like me, have similar ridiculous robes they wear for the same reasons. In fact, one mother last week not only admitted she has a pink robe with matching pink slippers, but also has a time for her robe—Robe O’clock-a time I have not adopted when I unwind and shut it all down.
I can’t think of a better phrase… Robe O’clock. It sums up the exact emotions many have been feeling lately—exhausted, fed up, drained—and what was needed to deal with the mental weight of teaching and learning during the most difficult school year ever. We need Robe O’clock. We need time to check out. We need to wrap ourselves in comfort and joy. We need to tune out the negative noise. We need to refocus. We need a break. We all need our own version of my Scotch Plaid robe and time to reset. Sometimes Robe O’clock comes late Sunday night, and sometimes as soon as it’s dark at 4:45 I pack it in. For me, there is true value in remembering that no matter how hard I want “things” to be different, I can only control my reactions and feelings to everything around me. I will use the upcoming winter break to extend my Robe O’clock moments, and I encourage you to do the same. Find your “plaid robe” and roll with it—you’ve more than earned it.
