Doing nothing

My child comes home from school mentally exhausted and not in the mood to talk about school.  He stops in the laundry room and takes off every thing but his underwear.  He walks through the house and settles himself under a blanket on the floor with some mind dumbing video on. 

And you know what?  It is ok.  I have stressed and fretted for many months (maybe years) about this.  I have questioned experts on his lack of interest in "hashing" out his school day.  I have tried on every level to engage him about WHAT HAPPENED AT SCHOOL.  I have asked the whole variety of questions, please do not offer me any suggestions, I have literally checked out every book, blog and meme about good after school engagement questions.  He checks out.  Clocks off.  Shuts down.  He is not one to re tell countless tales about the entire day.  He does not share details about school events.  In fact he rarely shares anything. 

Right now it is ok.  He brings home his papers.  I can see what he is doing and where he is struggling.  I have a wide open door of communication with his teacher and have a fairly good idea what is going on.  We work on incomplete work at home and read with him.  I know some of his peers and on occasion ask those moms what they know.  I am actively engaged in different ways to keep up with what is happening at school. 

Will this work in the future?  Most likely not... but we will find a way to keep him on task and accountable.  We will cross that when we get to it. 

Do I stress about him being mostly naked and watching crap tv?  Not so much.  He helps when help is needed.  He puts his laundry in the basket.  He puts his towels away.  He picks up his toys. When I get home from "peopling" all day, I like a mental break and to sit quietly watching junk or reading a weird book.  He will disengage from the junk and re-engage with me when he is ready.  He will tell me tall tales which may be loosely based on fact about his day.  He will giggle and wiggle.  But every day after school, he needs a break. 

Maybe in my worries I overlooked the fact that doing nothing is healthy.  Doing nothing is a break for an active mind and body.  It lets his mind clear, his body relax.  Doing nothing prepares us for the next something.  In my worries I overlooked the fact that my child is working really hard to maintain good behavior (most days), understand and learn and follow social rules of play.  He is busy all day long and then many days after school we are engaged in some type of activity.  When he gets home he needs to do nothing, say nothing, answer nothing.  He needs to just do nothing. 

So right now, he is laying in his underpants on the floor in the play room watching a video.  As close to nothing as he can get!