I have always loved learning the local history of wherever I happened to be living. Having moved only last year, I have had fun learning a bit about the history of our new city, Greeley, Colorado. Greeley began in the late 1800s as the brainchild of a man named Nathan Meeker. Originally from New York (the state we moved from!), Meeker was an utopist. His vision for Greeley was a community based on the specific ideals of Family, Faith, Temperance, Irrigation, and Cooperation. It was to be his utopian dream come true.
Unfortunately, things did not go exactly as planned. Little nasty realities like politics and money stepped in and eventually Meeker became disillusioned and left Greeley. Ah, best laid plans . . .
I can relate to Meeker. I can get excited about a new plan or program or schedule. Take this past summer. I worked out this great plan where everyone had daily piano lessons or practice, reading time, work time, and quiet time. It worked great!! Until we went away. Then company came. By then it was neigh unto impossible to get back into the swing of the new plan. My utopia crumbled! Ah, best laid plans . . .
Or take today for instance. I had plans, but instead I was in the orthopedic doctor’s office so our second son could have his broken arm casted. Ah, best laid plans . . .
Maybe you can relate. When the homeschool adventure began as a mere germ of a dream, you had visions of educational utopia. A community where everyone works blissfully and enthusiastically embraces the exciting themes and field trips. Then came the day when no one wanted to work or the day when no one got along or when the curriculum wasn’t working out or the day you when you asked yourself, “What in the wide world were we thinking???!!!” On those days, it’s easy to shake your head and say, “Ah, best laid plans . . . “
So what do we do when our best laid plans evaporate? Do we chalk it up as a lost cause and throw in the towel? Or do we embrace the reality that is and make the best of it? What can these times teach us? Perhaps the greatest lessons our kids will ever learn will come from days when we have to resort to Plan B, or C, or M!! We can use these times to teach our kids:
To roll with the punches. When things don’t go according to plan, we can show our kids how to roll with the punches. Things in life don’t always work out and learning to bounce back is an important life skill. It gives opportunity to deal with disappointment and hone coping skills.
To be thankful when things go well. If we never had difficult times, we would never appreciate easy times. It’s easy for our kids to be accustomed to all things good and fun and comfortable. It’s easy for them to come to believe that they are entitled to all things good, fun and comfortable. It’s the trying times that remind us otherwise. We are not entitled. Tough times teach us to be thankful for times when things are easier.
To be resourceful. There is no greater time to learn to problem-solving skills then when there are problems to be solved! Whether we model this skill or include our children directly, we can teach our kids to take what’s at hand and make it work. When things don’t go according to plan, we have a chance to kick our thinking skills into high gear.
That life is laboratory. As much as we would like life to be neat and tidy and predictable, the truth is that it’s more like a laboratory. Plans often boil over their prescribed containers and learning to live with other people can be downright messy. Our kids would do well to learn this truth and practice navigating this laboratory we call life.
Whenever I tell my friends back east about this fascinating bit of Greeley history, they ask the inevitable question, “Well, is it a utopia?” While Greeley may not be a perfect utopian community, there are aspects that reflect Meeker’s original dream. For example, it is very family-friendly with many opportunities for families to spend time together such as beautiful parks and great recreation areas. It may not be perfect, but I think it is a great place because of the dreams and ideals that gave it birth.
And your day or plan or homeschool may not be what you had originally envisioned during utopia-planning mode, but those dreams do affect reality. Reality, although not perfect, is better because of the dreams that have shaped it.
And the lessons we learn and teach in less-than-perfect times are better than utopia because they shape our character.
So I think I’ll keep up the Greeley tradition and dream big. But I’ll also embrace the reality of when best laid plans go awry. How about you?
Copyright © 2013 J. Hoffman / GSN
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Email: JHoffman@GlobalStudentNetwork.com