Moms, Say Yes to Spontaneity: A Lesson from the Stanley Cup Finals
I’m not a spontaneous mom.
Honestly, I’m not a spontaneous person. I live and die by my planner and my to do lists.
Life is busy, and if it isn’t on paper, it generally doesn’t happen.
But last week, I was spontaneous with my kids, and it was a night we will never forget. The simple act of doing something unplanned profoundly impacted me.
You see, our city’s hockey team, the Nashville Predators, is playing in the Stanley Cup Finals. Nashville is on fire with excitement. Music City has become Hockey City and is covered in gold and navy. Currently the series is tied 2-2 after another big win last night!
With every game, downtown Nashville converts into one big party, with big screens to view the game and cheer on our team. It’s magical.
Elias became a big Preds fan this year and his fandom has spread throughout our home. Last week, he asked if we could go downtown to watch the first game in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Normally, I would have been quick to say no. I had worked all day and was looking forward to an evening at home. I didn’t know what the crowds and traffic would be like and if would be a good environment to take an 8-year-old.
But after talking with a few friends and Matthew, I decided to throw logic to the wind and thought why not. The Stanley Cup Finals don’t happen every year, and I knew it would potentially be one of those childhood memories the kids would always have. I gave Adeline the option to come too and she happily joined us. (Matthew kept Ezra at home since he goes to bed early.)
We got downtown about an hour and a half before the game, and I immediately knew we made the right decision. There were thousands of people and everyone was so excited. The music was upbeat, just like the fans in anticipation of the game. We met some friends who also were downtown, which added to our fun.
The experience was magical. I had the kids pose for a few photos and said, “this is something you will remember for the rest of your lives. You just don’t realize it now.”
When we got home, I surprised them with commemorative pucks. I hope they will keep them always. Maybe someday they’ll tell their kids about the time their hometown team was in the Stanley Cup Finals and they went downtown to watch the game with their mama.
Since then, Elias and I volunteered to pass out goodies for game three, and we have watched every game together as a family. We truly have been bitten by the hockey bug.
A year ago, I don’t think I could have told you what sport the Stanley Cup Finals were for, but now, man, I am a forever hockey lover. I think that spontaneous Monday night help spark my new found fandom.
And it’s made me think, in what other ways could my life be impacted with a little spontaneity? I’ve decided I want to live a bit more open-handed and ready for those making unexpected memories.
Are you often spontaneous with your kids? Why or why not?
I’m also like you—planner to a T—and would have totally gone downtown spontaneously had we not been traveling. Here’s to more spontaneity this summer 😉
I never was spontaneous until I separated from my husband. Even then, I was very scheduled. Then one day I decided I really, really wanted to go see Florida Georgia Line with my sister…on a weeknight…with no tickets. We figured out a way for someone to keep my kids, we got really cheap tickets, and we danced and sang all night long. I didn’t sleep all night and I had to work the next day. It was worth every second. Now I regularly try to throw (some) caution to the wind and do fun things with my kids. We just have this one life. Let’s go live it! (PS, totally have been swimming with my kids every weekend so far this summer in my swimsuit thanks to you)
I’m a long time fan of you and your family!!
I am very spontaneous with my children, not because it’s the way I naturally am, but because life has thrown some huge curve balls at my family recently….financially mostly. This makes it hard to make solid plans sometimes. If I end up with a little extra money after the bills are paid and food is in the cupboard, I will surprise my kids with something special. So it’s usually always a last minute situation. We always have fun regardless of how small of an adventure it may be. 🙂
I loved this post and you all look so happy!!
I wish I could be spontaneous but I must plan everything. I loved seeing your pics and see such joy on all the kids and adults faces.
This story was filled with joy and mother love. It reminded me of going to Fan Fest with our son when he was 8 or 9. It is big event that is part of Major League Baseball’s All Star game. My interest was zero but my mom love said why not. He is now 30 and remembers many parts of our day together.