Shoveling Snow with Dad
We recently awoke to enough snow at
our house for sledding and snowman making.
When we had finished breakfast, my three-year old son got down from the
table and began to play with some of his toys in our family room. "Ready to go out in the snow?" I
asked? "No, I want to stay in,"
he said. "We could make a
snowman!" "That's
OK." "I see some children
sledding. Do you want to go
sledding?" "No. I want to stay in."
I was surprised, and a little
disappointed. I wanted to go out and
play with him. I was pretty sure we'd
both have fun. But he quite clearly
wanted to stay put. He was engaged in
his play, and was not interested in getting all his snow-gear on and heading
outside at that moment.
I watched his play for a while, and
when I thought he was ready to move on to something else, I again proposed
going out in the snow. "No, thank
you," he said. "I thought to
myself, "We only get a few snow days a year and it seems like we're just
going to miss this one." I felt sad
about the lost opportunity, but decided to trust that it would work out - maybe
after his nap.
Just then, I noticed that the
walkway to our house was covered several inches deep, so I decided that I could
at least go out and shovel it clear.
"I'm going out to do some shoveling," I announced to him and
my wife. "I WANT TO COME!" my
son said excitedly, dropping his toys.
"OK, then, let's get your snow pants and gloves on!" He hurried right over, eager to get into his snow
clothes and get started with this new project.
We spent the next two hours
outside. We started with the shoveling, and
then went on to making a snowman and sledding.
But it was the shoveling that most motivated him. I've read that play is children's work, but
this situation reminded me that, for my son at this stage, working is his
favorite form of play. Whether it's
helping to make breakfast pancakes, pulling weeds, or shoveling snow, he most
wants to be a real part of our family life and home.
Our society sometimes confuses
enjoyment with leisure - with being passive and entertained. But I see again and again in all areas of my
life, that the deepest enjoyment and fulfillment comes from engaging with
others in caring for each other and the world around us. What's amazing is that I don't have to find
this out by reading an ancient book of wisdom.
My three-year old knows it by heart.