We experienced our first official power outage with children last Thursday, the night many devastating storms swept across Minnesota. The sky became sepia-toned and ominous. The wind picked up and a neighbor's tree branch fell on a wire and *ZAP* everything went quiet. Luckily it was still light enough to locate the lone working flashlight in the house. No microwave, no stove, and I didn't want to open the freezer. "Okay kids, we're having PB&J's for dinner. They brushed their teeth by candlelight, made shadow puppets on the ceiling and read books by flashlight. The last line of Goodnight Moon seemed especially poignant on that quiet night without the buzz of electricity. "Goodnight noises everywhere..." The kids went to bed with no fuss. It was dark and all was calm. That is, until an hour later when the power came back and everything came blaring on at once.
Lights!
Radio!
Fans!
Blinking clocks!
Crying children!
We were thankful the event was merely an inconvenience. Lesson learned. We went out and bought more flashlights and batteries to prepare for the inevitable next time.
But I really wished we'd packed them in our suitcases...
The next morning we left for a Father's Day road trip to Illinois. Having two potty-trained kids is great, but diapers sure made for fewer rest stops. We had to make several more visits to the rest stops and were running behind schedule.
I tried to call home to let my parents know, but they didn't pick up.
I called and called and called. The phone rang and rang and rang. No answer. huh.
We finally arrived in the driveway
They were home " Hey, why didn't you guys pick up the phone?" I asked.
My mom stood there with the candleabra. "Our power went out. " Wouldn't you know it?
Oh, well the kids were used to it by now.
We could all laugh and converse with no TV distractions. Once again, it was a lot of fun, almost an adventure.
My brother, sister and the pack of cousins came over. We were sitting around as it got darker.
"Why are we doing this?" my sister in law said. "We have power, the kids can play in the light. Let's go!"
We all loaded up and went over to her house. Pack of cousins went to the basement and played.
We were there oh, maybe 5 minutes.
* zzzzzzt * blink * zzzzzzzzt * blink.
The power went out.
Of. course.
More flashlights, more shadow puppets. and Peter and I shared a ghost story from our old house for good measure.
We made are way back to a dark home. Once again, no problem putting the kids to bed - the dark really helps. Maybe we should stage a few more power outages on the nights they are being going to sleep?
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Super cool sky photo above care of Jennifer Rensenbrink (aka JenniferTwinMom) - She does it all and blogs about it at New Home Economics
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Red Cross gives tips for safety during a power outage here. Power outage checklist
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What have you done for activities during power outages with the kids? Unlike me, were you prepared?
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