Alternate Plans

This morning as I headed out to school it started raining.  It wasn't just the pleasant pitter patter of a spring rain, it was a downpour.  I knew it had set in for the day.  Why today? 

Today  was to be our Mardi Gras party day, complete with King cakes, costumes, masks, Cajun music and a parade with lots of beads and doubloons being thrown and caught.  Why did it have to rain today?

Well, it was going to rain and we were going to have a party... slightly altered.  As the children came into the room I told them they could take out any toy they wanted, and I pulled out a few things they had never seen.   We all love unexpected surprises.

I took out glue bottles and leftover sequins and glitter.  Everyone had the chance to decorate a second mask.   The children hardly noticed we were missing playground time.  We cut the King cake and enjoyed a sugary snack before preparing for our parade.

Wonderful volunteers brought costumes to our room and we quickly dressed as clowns, superheros, princesses and ballerinas.  With our Headmistress leading, instruments in little hands, we danced down an alternate parade route, ending up in the Youth Hall eager to catch beads and doubloons.  Everyone returned with lots of treasures and smiles.

Frequently we  wake up to realize rain has begun to fall.  Our lives no longer will go as planned.   Many times the changes needed will be more life altering than rerouting a parade, but I think we can still learn from the children.   Hopefully, we have nurtured wonderful friends to bring us what we need and help us find alternate routes.  The only thing that really matters is how the story ends.