Adapting - A Lesson - Really

As a parent, I think it is important for my kids to learn to be adaptable.  Adaptability might not always have the greatest appeal.  It sort of straddles between the positive undertones of "flexible," "resiliant" and "forgiving" and the negative connotations of "avoidance" and "milk-toast."  But this week, in the midst of holiday activity, I am aware that in four particular circumstances, I am teaching my kids how to be adaptable:

First, the mice.  They come in our house, and we just rearrange the food.  Our pantry is wonderfully mouse free because all our food now sits on the kitchen counter where they cannot climb to get it.

Second, the heat.  We currently have none.  So, I found our trusty space heater and we're all nice and cozy in my room, three in sleeping bags on the floor and three on the bed.  Ah, togetherness.

Third, the smoke alarm.  It gave such a lovely chirp all night long.  In response, we (a) covered our heads with pillows, and then (b) successfully removed it into submission.  We even found, during breakfast preparations, that it works wherever we place it.

Fourth, the lights.  Our dining room lights don't work, so we've seized the darkness and now enjoy intimate candlelight dinners.  When the bathroom lights broke, we simply moved in a lamp.  And although I spent hours hanging lights outside, when the plug stopped working, we just moved the lights to the tree.

Maybe in another blog, I'll recount lessons to the kids on being proactive, placing important phone calls, developing practical skills, speaking up.  But, this post, and this time, is all about adapting.