Opportunities

Ruby has been looking forward to Friday since she started school just over a month ago.  Crazy Hair Day.  By the end of the school week, I have just about had it with the whole morning routine. 
Friday was even worse because I had gotten very little sleep the night before.  I was so tempted to make a quick breakfast and head back to bed, but I remembered that Ruby would probably want my help with her hair.  Glad I took the opportunity, because it turned out really cute and it was fun to do together. 

We have had incredibly warm weather for January.  High 50's.  It has been nice, but a little disconcerting.  I prefer the seasons to do their natural thing.  I would much rather have lovely weather in March, but I have to admit I was willing to enjoy that sunshine! 
How disappointed I was to read that the homeschool group was having a park day.  I really could have used the mommy time, but I had contagious kids that had to stay home.  Daisy was even home Friday because she had been up all night coughing.  She too was amazed with the weather.  When I told her about Park Day, she got an idea.  She gathered some snacks, a blanket, and some red-checked napkins and took the two little kids out in the sunshine for a picnic.  I could hear them giggling outside my bedroom window as I did my study time.  It wasn't long before I realized that an opportunity was presenting itself, and I didn't want to miss it.
 "Get out there and enjoy your children, enjoy the sunshine!", said a voice inside my head.  I decided to listen.  It was lovely.
We ate dried apricots and soaked up the sun.  I guess because January and sleds go together, Daisy was soon pulling the kids across the dead grass in a snow sled! 

Boy was I surprised when I woke up Saturday to the news that it had snowed! It seemed impossible after the short-sleeve weather of the day before.  Right away I recognized another opportunity.  I've been having a strong impression that our family needs to get out and do more together.  I imagined the surprise and excitement when I'd announce that we were going to go sledding!  We usually spend Saturdays working, so I couldn't wait to see everyone's reaction. 

For some reason, I didn't get that reaction.  My family is not so spontaneous, I guess.  After several opposing remarks, I almost gave up.  Dad could only think of the disaster last year when he took the kids to the golf course and Ruby refused to walk back to the car.  Simon wanted to watch a movie, so the snow wasn't tempting him.  Sarajoy was making requests that playing in the snow couldn't distract her from.  Brandon said he'd only go "if we go somewhere fun."  I admit that my reaction to these comments was not lovely.  I was terribly disappointed, but I insisted we'd go and make it fun. 

It took an hour to get everybody dressed.  By the time we were all done, the younger kids had been out in the yard getting snowy pants and cold, wet gloves.  I grabbed a few extra gloves and off we went.  The road from the golf course gate to the big hill was downhill.  The little kids were happy for a ride on the sleds down to the location.  By the time we arrived, Simon and Sarajoy had both soaked another pair of gloves.  I got Simon's good waterproof gloves on him in a way that I hoped he wouldn't be able to take off.  I don't know why little kids won't keep gloves on, but it is surely annoying! 

The older kids were having a great time going down the big hill.  It was pretty steep, and had a kind of bump at the end.  Simon went down with Nathan and burst into tears when they landed.  Daisy went down with Nathan (surprise because she said she wasn't going to go at all.  She is our worry-wart.) and the sled went off the path and they totally biffed it.  Thankfully she wasn't hurt.  We noticed that the next hill down looked more tame, so we all went down the big hill and had a lot more fun on the "bunny hill".  I was so proud that Daisy wasn't afraid at all to hop on a sled and go by herself.  The older kids were having "biff contests" and making sled trains.  I was sitting in the cold snow enjoying the rewards of taking an opportunity.  Dallin took Sarajoy down the little hill twice in her baby sled.  Tipping her into the snow face first on the first go did not make her very excited about the second go.  I held her for a few minutes while Dallin joined with the big kids.  Daisy was getting brave enough by now to take Simon down on her sled.  They were doing such a great job and having so much fun!  I was thoroughly enjoying my family.

Sarajoy was pretty miserable and we were down to an extra pair of adult gloves that were hanging limply from her frozen hands.  "Car-car", she would moan. 

I insisted I get to watch Daddy go down a couple of times and we headed back to the car.  I knew it would take us awhile.  We had to go up the big hill and then up the road to the gate.  I knew it would not be smart pregnancy-wise for me to be carrying her at all, so I helped her walk the best I could.  About halfway there, she stopped, insisting that I carry her.  I encouraged her to keep walking so we could get in the warm car, but she would not have it.  I told her she could wait for Daddy if she wanted.  She tearfully chose this option, so we stood in the road and watched and waited.  Soon Daisy came up and said that she was done, but the others wanted a few more minutes.  Sarajoy was clinging to my legs, wanting to be held.  I gradually backed up more and more and she would step a little farther along the road.  We got pretty far this way, but soon she caught on.  When that happened, she fell to her knees and sobbed.  I felt so bad for her!  I talked her through it the best I could.  Finally Daddy showed up, but he was pulling Simon in a sled and had his arms full of cross-country skis he'd been trying out.  Ruby brought the baby sled up to me, and I put Sarajoy in (kicking and screaming) and started to drag her up the hill.  She was doing all she could to kick me, pull the string, stop the sled, anything to show me that this was NOT the manner of carrying she was planning on.  Dallin caught up to me and grabbed the strings.  I grabbed the skis and he plowed ahead. 

I was left behind with Daisy who was finding all sorts of things to complain about.  I hoped that with a warm car and hot chocolate in her near future she would cheer up, but no.  "It probably won't even taste good because you don't let us put more chocolate in, " was her reply.  Nice.

Everyone was calm for the short ride home, but as soon as Sarajoy stepped out of the car she burst into tears.  She was so tired and cold and wanted her bulky clothing off.  I had to get my clothing off to a degree before I could move enough to help her.  Simon walked in and burst into screams because Sarajoy was being so loud.  He wanted help, too, but I insisted he ask me nicely.  Not happening.  I quickly undressed Sarajoy and sent her to her room to find her pacifiers.  Hot chocolate was not even a temptation for her.  She just wanted her bed!  Even after she was done, it took several minutes for Simon to calm down enough for me to help him.  Then he started in on the demands for hot chocolate. 

Eventually everyone had their hot chocolate and our house was calm. 

I wondered about my golden opportunity.  Was it really worth it?  2.5 hours of torture for 30 minutes of glorious family time?  Thinking about it that way, probably not.

But as I considered the experience later, I realized that the whole experience provided opportunities that I wasn't really counting before.  Had I taken the easy road and stayed home for movies and hot chocolate, I would have missed quite a bit.

I had the opportunity to check my own behavior while experiencing disappointment to the reactions.

I had the opportunity to care for and comfort my little girl, even when it was uncomfortable to me.

I had the opportunity to practice patience in a very emotionally charged situation.

I realized that most opportunities are a package deal.  Some of the parts of the package will produce wonderful, joyful moments.  Other parts of the package will be trying, annoying, inconvenient and painful.  They will make the package not seem worth it.

But if we can recognize those parts as something also to be thankful for, then we will experience growth. 

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