Scattered Thoughts about Flexibility

The other day I left work and stopped at the gas station. My boss pulled in right behind me. We had a little bit of a weird conversation.

"You know, there are many ways that being a teacher prepares you for being a mom," she said.

I nodded, "What way in particular are you thinking of right now?"

"Lots of ways, but in particular flexibility. If you aren't flexible as a mom, you'll be an unhappy mom."

Again, I nodded and smiled. I like that she knows I want to be a mom and that she loves me enough to share wisdom with me.

I struggled with small changes in plans when I was, I'm guessing, a pre-teen. I remember distinctly my mom saying, "Your life is going be really difficult if you don't learn how to go with the flow."

As I thought about what these two wise women said, the point they made was that plans will change and adaptation will be required of us. It is our attitude which is under our control. We can choose to anticipate a need for flexibility, be happy to make adaptations, and not be upset when we look back at a situation which didn't go our way. Or, we can be rigid, grouchy, and possibly regret that life didn't turn out the way we wanted.

Being a mom and being a teacher may require extra flexibility, and so does being a military wife. I don't deal with needing flexibility as much the spouses of active duty military, but I do deal with it. Right now, I have a huge need for flexibility. I would like to nail down Thanksgiving plans, but I don't know when Ryan will be home. So, I've just set my plans. I'll go with him, without him, or I won't go because I'm picking him up. People are continually asking me when he is coming home. I give as much information as I know, then shrug and say, "I'll take him when he comes!"

I think I do pretty well at being flexible. I will definitely continue to need it!

May life go the way you planned it, and may you go with the flow when it doesn't!

Jordon