I almost never have a plan.  To be totally honest, I am plan averse.  I just don’t always want to decide what I am going to do tomorrow, I’d prefer to leave my options open.

I’ve annoyed many a friend with this – a part of the fun and frustration that is Me.  I’ve never been upset with someone for a change in plans, life happens and the best stuff is rarely on the schedule.

Not being a plan person has really helped me with parenting.  One of the first things you learn when you have a baby is that you are no longer in charge.  The earlier you can let it go – the laundry, the sleep schedule, that book you think you need to read today – the happier you will be.  I was happy right away.  Truly.

This weekend I had an awesome plan – taking the kids to Winterlude with the Yummy Mummy Club.  I was very excited to spend time with friends and meet some amazing women in real life that I only know online.  I packed up the kids and we drove off.

The highlight of my weekend was skating on the canal with Jakob.  The four of us walked down with our skates and rented a sled.  Benny fell asleep under my coat and Tess sat happily while JJ and I raced up and down the canal, big fat snow falling on us.

A great moment with my son.  A beautiful plan come true.

Then, over beavertails and poutine, the plan kind of started falling apart.  Chocolate beavertails (not recommended by the way) were timed perfectly with Benny waking up grumpy (like his Mama) and Tess deciding NOW was the best time to go home.  So, with three crying kids, I took off our skates and we walked back to the hotel.  By the time we reached the room, happiness was back.  Hotel bed jumping, TV watching, snacks from Starbucks…bliss

I must admit I was less than happy about leaving the canal.  My heart was really in skating and more time with Mummy friends, but the kids needed to go, and when you’ve gotta go…   So, we made some new plans to meet up the next day to see the ice sculptures.

At 7pm that evening the three kids were fast asleep when the fire alarm went off at our hotel.  Asleep, in bed, not dressed.   I looked outside our room and all the other guests were leaving, I called and the front desk wasn’t answering the phone.  So I woke them up and grabbed what I could.  I figured we would end up in the lobby, so sweaters for the boys and shorts, Tess in a nightgown. Instead of the lobby, we end up out on the street.  Kids crying and cold, fire truck loud out front.  It ends up being a false alarm and about ten minutes later we are back in our hotel and the kids are beyond upset.  Begging to go home.  Begging and crying.

Plans change.  We decide to leave the hotel and drive home.  It was only 7:30, so no big deal.  Bundle, pack up kids and head out.  Figure we will be home late, but in time for fun Valentine’s and Family Days.

Plans change again.  Between Ottawa and Kingston there is a lot of snow and it takes us five hours to reach Napanee, where we decide to stop for the night.  Pull into the Hampton Inn in Napanee at 1:30 on Valentine’s Day.  No ice sculptures or hot chocolate, no sleep, can’t even manage to get the kids home safely, and we’re in Napanee….oy

When we pulled into the hotel Jakob woke up and I explained where we were, that we would not be making it home that night.  He saw what time it was and wished me a happy Valentine’s Day.  Then he said something amazing, something I will never forget, he said “this is a great Valentine’s Day Mama!  There wasn’t a fire and we are safe from the snow.  And now we can swim in two hotel pools this weekend!”

Plans change, but wisdom never does.  Fire alarms mess up plans, but they aren’t always fires.  Snow can slow you down, but long drives are not accidents.  And really, is there anything more fun when you are a kid than a hotel pool? Let alone two?!

Does life need planning?  Yes. Especially when you are a parent and you run a business.  But life happens outside the lines.  Life happens with the friends you never thought you’d meet, in the fun you didn’t know would happen. True happiness is two pools when there were only supposed to be one.

So to the ones I plan to see, and to my little ones now safe at home in their own beds (or mine, whatever) Happy Valentine’s Day.  Thank you for the fun I wasn’t expecting.