Time Out!
This past Sunday we had a pretty vicious storm pass through our area and though no tornado touched down we had straight line winds as high as 70 mph. The result of the straight line winds was major damage to some businesses and homes as well as power outages. Most of our town, including our neighborhood, was out of power for nearly 48 hours. Many people found themselves fleeing to hotels or to relatives homes in cities that did have power. Others took shelter in facilities set up by the Red Cross. We, however, stuck it out at home without any electricity for 26 hours until my husband was able to borrow a generator from a friend at work who had power. Even after the generator was hooked up and turned on we still had limited use of electronics.
If you have children you are probably aware that this situation of no power had the potential of turning into a nightmare for Mom and Dad. However, I am glad to say, that this was not the case. On Monday, the kid's and I set out in the wind to find something to eat and some snacks for the day. We stopped at Walgreens to pick up a car adapter so the kids could charge some of their gadgets. While we were there, I suggested that the kids pick up some coloring books. At first they bulked at the idea. Kids who are 9, 11, and 13 don't color. But they reluctantly picked out one for each of them and I got one for myself (Hello Kitty of course). After driving around for a while to get warm, we settled in for a cold day at home and during that day something strange and wonderful happened. My big kids turned back into their 5 and 6 year old selves. They located a box of crayons (I always keep them stocked up even with "big kids" in the house) and they began to color. Even with their electronic devices charged they didn't stop coloring. For nearly two hours we sat at the dining room table and colored together with kids asking me to help them color their pictures or to color a picture for them. And the coloring was just the beginning.
After my husband got home and plugged in the generator, we were still without heat so we had to use the stove to heat the house. While waiting for it to heat up, my husband, oldest son, and I settled into the kitchen around freshly brewed cups of coffee and played a game of Scrabble. The game lasted for about two and half hours during which time we laughed and teased each other. It was a time when my oldest son and I did not argue (which we unfortunately do alot). We just enjoyed each other's company. Through out the next day, with only generator power, we spent time talking about silly stuff and some serious stuff too.
After the power came back on and we were able to have full access to televisions, computers, and the internet, I could not help feeling a little sad. Though I cannot say I enjoyed the cold hours without heat or needing to throw away everything in the freezer and refridgerator, I did enjoy the time out from significant technological distractions, they time spent with the kids coloring pictures, playing board games, and just getting to know each other better. As winter approaches and the temperatures are cold, I will not wish for another two days without power, but if (and when) the power goes out again, I hope we will once again take the "time out" as an opportunity to enjoy each other's company.
If you have children you are probably aware that this situation of no power had the potential of turning into a nightmare for Mom and Dad. However, I am glad to say, that this was not the case. On Monday, the kid's and I set out in the wind to find something to eat and some snacks for the day. We stopped at Walgreens to pick up a car adapter so the kids could charge some of their gadgets. While we were there, I suggested that the kids pick up some coloring books. At first they bulked at the idea. Kids who are 9, 11, and 13 don't color. But they reluctantly picked out one for each of them and I got one for myself (Hello Kitty of course). After driving around for a while to get warm, we settled in for a cold day at home and during that day something strange and wonderful happened. My big kids turned back into their 5 and 6 year old selves. They located a box of crayons (I always keep them stocked up even with "big kids" in the house) and they began to color. Even with their electronic devices charged they didn't stop coloring. For nearly two hours we sat at the dining room table and colored together with kids asking me to help them color their pictures or to color a picture for them. And the coloring was just the beginning.
After my husband got home and plugged in the generator, we were still without heat so we had to use the stove to heat the house. While waiting for it to heat up, my husband, oldest son, and I settled into the kitchen around freshly brewed cups of coffee and played a game of Scrabble. The game lasted for about two and half hours during which time we laughed and teased each other. It was a time when my oldest son and I did not argue (which we unfortunately do alot). We just enjoyed each other's company. Through out the next day, with only generator power, we spent time talking about silly stuff and some serious stuff too.
After the power came back on and we were able to have full access to televisions, computers, and the internet, I could not help feeling a little sad. Though I cannot say I enjoyed the cold hours without heat or needing to throw away everything in the freezer and refridgerator, I did enjoy the time out from significant technological distractions, they time spent with the kids coloring pictures, playing board games, and just getting to know each other better. As winter approaches and the temperatures are cold, I will not wish for another two days without power, but if (and when) the power goes out again, I hope we will once again take the "time out" as an opportunity to enjoy each other's company.
Comments
Post a Comment