The lull

There is always a time period in businesses when there is a lull...mine seems to be after a busy period. A couple of weeks ago I had 11 orders on my board...11!...this week: Just 2.

It's like life though...there are ups, downs, and occasionally you get a steady flow. Just when you hit that steady flow though, something happens to throw you off.

Sounds kind of like parenting now that I think about it...

With five monkeys in our treehouse, we have a daily routine. There are things within our routine that have routines to them...it sounds OCD...it's not...it's necessary. Our monkeys thrive with routine. They behave better, they have less attitude, and they have less anxiety. No matter how they behave or misbehave, they know what is expected of them and they know that life is full of choices.

We took a trip to Canobie Lake Park on Monday with the monkeys and some family. The tickets were a birthday present to all of us from the family that came with us. So anyways, we had 5 kids and 5 adults. Our monkeys were prepared to stay together as a family and they all knew that there would be rides that they would have to wait at while their siblings went on. Family members decided to split off and take the two little monkeys while Mr. Incredible and I took the big monkeys. The idea being that they "shouldn't have to wait". I disagree but nonetheless, we did split up.

We met back up later and Mr. Incredible and I spent another hour or so at the park with all five monkeys. During that hour, the kids were WONDERFUL at waiting and actually asked why we couldn't have all just stayed together. They had fun separated, but they are used to waiting for each other and are learning to be patient. They enjoy seeing each other have fun and having fun together and our monkeys missed that during the time they were separate. Don't get me wrong, all of our monkeys can get impatient at times. But they are learning and are probably some of the most patient kiddos you'll meet (unless they are with people who give them permission not to be).

I'd like to say that I'm not bragging, in fact I wrote that just now, and then deleted it. I want to be honest with you. I am bragging a little. I am proud of our monkeys. I am bragging to say that our monkeys lasted all day at an amusement park, past bed time, outside of their routines a little (we tried to keep as much of it as we could), and they did really well. We used yesterday as a built in "recovery day" and just had some down time during the day. That worked for our monkeys.

It worked this time...we are in a bit of a lull. That lovely period of time when the kids understand the expectations and the parents understand the kids. It won't last long...in fact tomorrow could be a trainwreck...and then we will once again have to adjust and figure out what works. That's what parenting, life, and business is all about. Figuring out what works...for now.

No method will work forever.

Life is too fluid.

I can't be certain, but maybe that is where the phrase "go with the flow" comes from?

Take a moment and look at your life, your own monkeys, or your business. Do you have something to brag about? Revel in it for a moment. Be proud.