By Jennifer Slayden
The day was beautiful-the forecast promising. Our family decided to pack up the raft, head to some new water to check out the scenery and the fishing, and spend a nice day reconnecting with each other.
We packed plenty of food, and as an after thought, I suggested we bring a few jackets because there was a chance of clouds and rain later in the day. Although it was hot when we launched, the river water was ice cold. This was a huge change from two weeks ago and was making swimming not as appealing to Grace, our tween daughter.
Riley immediately donned the fly-fishing rod among our pleas to not catch US, as he has before on a few occasions. Grace entertained us by sitting behind Cade at the stern of the boat so we could only see his face, and used him as a longhaired puppet with her own hair. She has learned that little brothers are occasionally useful for tween imagination.
The trip was beautiful, and I repeatedly felt grateful for where we live and the recreational activities we have that are so abundant. I took over the rowing for a while and after a bit felt the wind picking up. The sky, which had been deep blue with some clouds on the horizon, started rapidly changing to mostly cloudy with a chance of you are in trouble!
It happened so fast! We felt the drop in temperature. I was patting myself on the back for throwing extra jackets in the dry bag as I handed them out to the kids. By the time we recognized that a storm was upon us, the gale force winds hit…and then the rain. I had relinquished control of the oars to my husband Mark, who is much better at battling the stubborn wind. Even he was struggling, though, as the winds shoved us upstream.
Then we saw the lightning. We heard the booming voice of the thunder. When Grace was hit by debris flying from nearby trees and the rain started pummeling down on us, we knew we had to get to shore and bail out….quick!
Mark managed to get us to the bank, where we scrambled up a steep hill and sought shelter in a stand of aspen trees and shrubs. The wind blasted us, lightening made a laser show around us, and we were drowned out by the symphony of thunder ricocheting of the mountains. To my pleasant surprise, I remained remarkably calm during this entire time.
The unexpected storm was fast. It made a grand entrance, and disappeared without bidding adieu. We made our way back to the bank of the river and as I looked up on the horizon, I saw the blue sky laughing at us toward Missoula. What an adventure!
When we returned home that night and the kids remarked about how fun the day was, I realized that the weather we encountered was much like my life as a mom.
I became a “weathermom” the day my first child was born. The certification came upon the announcement from the doctor that “It’s a boy!” My job from that day on has been to forecast and predict, and hopefully prepare and weather the storms as they blow through in each stage of parenthood. It has also been about enjoying the sunny days and learning how to dance in the rain!
Just like our local weathermen, I can only control so much. I can read up on parenting, talk to other moms, be open and honest with my own kids, and try to have the tools to be ready for any situation. Just like our weathermen, I am sometimes taken off guard, and sometimes wrong.
My hope is that I can be the calm one as I was that day on the river. Perhaps if I can act as the “eye of the storm” my tween daughter will always seek shelter and safety in our relationship. It is easy to be bogged down by her unpredictable nature these days. The weather pattern changes frequently.
There is a saying in Montana that you probably all have heard. “If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes.” Such is the case with weathering the storms of parenting a tween. Hold on tight, get out of the storm, and recognize that the sun will come out again in a short while.
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This made me smile! Thank you for putting to words what many of us feel.
Wow! Sounds like quite a day on the river! And it is so true that we do well to try to forecast and be prepared for whatever life may bring. Still, as you say, sometimes we are wrong and get to weather whatever life brings. Sometimes those are great adventures. Thanks for another great article!
What an adventure! It’s great for kids to get away from the house, tv or stress and have a great adventure. I love it!
I really like the analogy of a mom to a weatherman. Great writing!