The snow piles up. Traffic slows down. Plans get scrambled.
Our carefully choreographed and coordinated schedules fall apart. School gets cancelled. Extra classes arent held. Meetings are rescheduled.
We suddenly have that extra time weve been hoping to find. But, we didnt know it was coming. We didnt plan for making use of it. Sometimes were too surprised to even enjoy it.
Its a test of our flexibility.
As a planner, I like to have a plan and work the plan. I get excited about seeing just how smoothly I can make things run. I even assume things will go wrong and plan contingencies.
I like to look ahead, to prepare and anticipate.
But, I have to admit, Im not always the best at making quick adjustments.
Weather like the recent snow immediately forces me to start working those flexibility muscles.
I believe that structure, schedules and routines help families move efficiently through life, but life always brings the unexpected.
So, how do we help our kids and ourselves practice flexibility?
Start with the things at hand.
For example, I usually get on our treadmill shortly after getting up. However, all the snow gave me an opportunity for some different morning exercise. I started several mornings sweeping and shoveling snow before pounding through an abbreviated workout. Our Bernese Mountain dog loved the chance to romp in the snow.
When weather pushes us inside, exercise becomes even more important. With the changes cancellations put into their schedules, kids particularly need that exercise.
Encourage the sled riding, snowman building, and snow angel creation that keeps kids moving. Keeping up on exercise will help everyone feel better.
Dont let boredom or moping mar snow days. Remind kids of the projects they have wanted time to do. Get the big, messy toys out. Youll have time to clean up. Pull out the big container of Kinex. Start the extra complicated puzzle.
Use the time to catch up on cleaning projects. Make sure to involve your kids. Doing so can have two effects. First, things get cleaner. Second, kids may become more motivated to find their own entertainment.
In our house, saying, Im bored means I need a job to do. Its amazing how many creative entertainments kids can come up with when faced with scrubbing the toilet.
A valuable lesson is knowing when to doggedly stick to a schedule and when to scrap it to seize the opportunity in front of us.
So, take time to enjoy the change of pace. The regular schedule will resume soon enough.
Another important lesson in life is knowing how to resume a schedule after a break. If a break leads to ripples of continuous disruption or it takes considerable time to resume a working schedule, interruptions will not be welcome next time.
During the break, take a little time to prepare for the return to normalcy. Iron clothes for work. Pack backpacks for school. Make an extra meal for the freezer.
Kids need to learn good habits and how to create structure to keep their lives running smoothly. But, they will also benefit from a good dose of flexibility. Thanks to the February snow, we have a chance to teach them.
