keen on routine

as we drove to school yesterday, i alerted liam as to why it might just be shaping up to be the Best Day Ever. "you have FIVE great things to look forward to today!" i exclaimed. sure enough, it piqued his curiosity, as well as susanna's. they asked me what the five monumental, life-changing events might be. "first, you get to tell your class about mr. bear's visit," i reminded him. (mr. bear is a traveling stuffed animal who goes home for one week at a time with each student.) clutched in his hand was an elaborate four-page report documenting mr. bear's stay, complete with photographs showcasing a trip to the library, making chocolate chip cookies, and swinging on the playset. "second, you are the snack person this week! we packed the cookies you and mr. bear made, as well as cheddar cheese and crackers." they continued to listen with rapt attention. "third, sutton is coming home with you after school for lunch and a playdate. fourth, you have soccer practice with coach scott. and fifth," i said, rounding out the day's agenda, "the weather is so nice that we'll stay at the playground afterwards and play with all your soccer friends!" and that was the extent of the excitement -- at least in my eyes. the rest of the day would be the same as yesterday and the day before that. the conversation wasn't over, however. susanna seemed to pick up where i had left off. "and sixth," she added, "we come home and have dinner!" "and seventh," liam responded, "we clean up our toys!" susanna: "and eighth, we take a warm bath!" liam: "and ninth, we put on our jammies!" susanna: "and tenth, we brush our teeth!" liam: "and eleventh, we read stories!" susanna: "and twelfth, we say our prayers!" liam: "and thirteenth, we turn off the lights and go to sleep!" and then there was silence. satisfied, content silence from the backseat, as they had run through the entire plan for march 30th and had reached the day's conclusion in their minds. while i waited at the same traffic light for the, oh, 152nd time since school began in september, i was struck at how routine our days were. i wondered, for a brief moment, if our lives were too predictable. too monotonous. too boring. "wow, mommy," liam said. "that does sound like a great day!" susanna echoed the sentiment, clapping in her carseat as if we had just found out we'd won the lottery. and then it struck me -- with routine comes a sense of security. and really, isn't that one of chris's and my main goals for our children? to provide them with the strongest sense of security possible? honestly, isn't security one of the most basic needs of everyone on the planet? the light turned green, and i continued down the route towards preschool that i swear i could do in my sleep. i adjusted my steering ever so slightly to avoid the pothole that i knew was coming up on the right side of the lane. the kids sang along to the sesame street CD, in slot #4 of my car's CD changer as it has been for months. and we began our day. safe and secure.