What we did instead

I've written before about how my family does not always make decisions that are popular in other families.  Generally, this doesn't bother me.  They make their decisions and we make ours and that's that.  However, as I wrote in that post, occasionally someone will indicate it's not the "correct" decision.

Yesterday was an example of that.  After playing out in the snow for over an hour, both Catherine and Thomas just wanted to come inside and drink some hot chocolate and put on warm jammies.  I had no problem with that at all.  It's part of the joy of snow days!  Catherine was supposed to have a scout meeting, but I wasn't terribly concerned about it, and when Andrew worked late unexpectedly it became obvious that we couldn't eat dinner together and make it to the scout meeting.  Catherine didn't particularly care, and I preferred dinner together since it's going to be tough this week to make that happen.  Our friends texted and asked if we could take their daughter along with ours to scouts because they had plans.  I explained that Andrew had worked late and that since we were choosing to eat a family dinner it meant Catherine wouldn't be going to scouts.  I then get a text that they have made arrangements to get their daughter to scouts and would be happy to include Catherine as well.  I'll be honest, I sighed and was a little bit irked, as this has happened before.  I made sure I waited before responding, which was to thank her but explain that with dinner being later than originally expected, Catherine would not be attending scouts.  I didn't hear back.  Please understand, I recognize that not everyone has the same feelings on this topic as we do.  I recognize the fact that this other family rarely does things the same way we do and that's totally fine.  It's their family and they are completely free to do as they please.  However, we have made the choice we've made, not because we can't get Catherine to scouts or because we are too lazy to take her, but because we have chosen to spend time as a family...all five of us not just the ones who don't have scouts.

And so how did we spend our evening instead?  We had some fun moments at dinner listening to Robert talk about his day (he was the only one with school stories!) and then the kids did some work in their bedrooms.  Of course everyone had a bath, and Andrew did some reading while I did some cleaning and picking up.  And then we all sat down and played a game together.  We had so many laughs and had so much fun...and it wasn't just me.  We all shared in the entertainment of each other.  I wouldn't trade that memory for anything!