The Value of Wasting Time Together

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When I am off from school, as I am now, I plan activities for my sons, but often the times I really connect with them are side effects of time that appears to be frittered away...

For example, the other evening I was picking blueberries. This is a pleasant task for the first week of the season, and then almost overwhelming for the remaining three weeks.  We have twelve mature blueberry bushes (read: twelve bushes that are least as tall as we are).  My older son came out to help me and we began chatting about college, his music teacher, and (the age old question): If one were riding in an elevator that fell down the shaft, could one avoid the impact by jumping up at just the right time? 

Consider also time spent lying on the trampoline together: You are tired from bouncing. There may be a wasp stuck in the net.   A cat may have ventured onto the trampoline with you, and is kneading your leg with his claws.  In the back of your mind you know there are dishes that need washing, that the house needs to be picked up... yet still.  Your younger son is lying next to you and wants to talk about his latest creation on "Bread Cats", an inscrutable game in which you control cats with different kinds of bread.  So you stay, because it takes time and the right situation to invite their thoughts.  Because you rushed all year.  Because summer will be over in a flash, and then (once again) there won't be time to waste together.