Summer Break Space Missions

When you work from home during summer break, your toddler doesn’t care that you're juggling Zoom calls, deadlines, and snack requests at the same time. They just want you to play. All day.

This morning was no different.

“Mom! Watch out for the aliens!”

“MJ, what aliens?”

“Come out—hurry up and get on my spaceship!”

I glance at the clock. “Buddy, I need seven more minutes. Then I’ll be on break and we can go to Mars… or Jupiter… wherever you want.”

“Mom! Help! The force field blew me backwards!”

Deep breath. “Just five more minutes and I’m all yours.”

Cue the puppy eyes.

“Please, Mom… just for a little bit. Come play with me.”

Eventually, I give in and take my break. Now I’m officially Space Mom. He appoints me pilot of the spaceship. What’s our ship, you ask? A yoga ball—one I got him to bounce on to exert all that energy. My own spaceship (when he allows me one) is the couch.

So here I am, flying my couch across the galaxy, trailing behind his yoga-ball spacecraft. But now, MJ decides he can’t complete his missions solo. He needs backup. So Woody arrives as his co-pilot. Duckie joins. And of course, Captain MJ leads the way.

Suddenly, he hops off the yoga ball and bolts to his room. Seconds later, he returns—Buzz Lightyear in hand. Now the crew is assembled. We're ready for takeoff.

And just like that, my break is nearly over.

I’m not sure if the aliens—or the entire galaxy—are ready for MJ’s energy and pizzazz. But I know this:
These chaotic, imaginative, giggle-filled moments? They’re the ones I’ll never forget.