Lake Lessons Learned
Lily Pads, Laughter, and Life Lessons: A Day at the Lake
This past weekend, we packed up and headed to the mountains—trading screen time and to-do lists for sunshine, pine trees, and a quiet little lake dotted with lily pads. It was one of those family days you hope your kids tuck into their memory banks forever: simple, beautiful, and full of unexpected lessons.
The Beauty of the Unexpected
We loaded the car with excitement (and snacks!) and brought along our two kayaks and two paddle boards, ready for a peaceful day on the water. But as we unloaded, we realized something was missing—one of the paddle board paddles.
At first, that moment of uh-oh set in. But instead of letting it ruin the day, we did what families do—we improvised. One of the kayak paddles could be taken apart, and just like that, we created a "Franken-paddle": half became a makeshift paddle board paddle, and the other half worked as a small oar for one of the kayaks.
It wasn’t perfect. It wasn’t smooth. But it worked—and honestly, it made the day more memorable.
Lesson #1: Sometimes things don’t go as planned—but with a little creativity and a good attitude, you can still have a great time.
Our kids got to see that firsthand: life will throw curveballs, but we don’t have to sit on the sidelines. We adapt, we laugh, and we keep going.
Falling In and Getting Back Up
At one point, one of the kids tipped the kayak and took a surprise splash into the lake. The water was cold and for a minute, they just sat there, frustrated and unsure.
But then came the moment that made us proud: they didn’t quit. With a little encouragement, they climbed back in, soaking wet and smiling (through the tears).
Later, we talked about it—and how falling out of the boat isn’t failure. It’s part of the ride.
Lesson #2: When you fall out (because at some point, you will), don’t give up. Take a breath, shake it off, and get back in the boat.
More Than Just a Day
That afternoon, paddling across still water and weaving through lily pads, we soaked up more than just sunshine. We talked. We laughed. We took goofy pictures and ate snacks. We watched dragonflies skim the water and listened to nothing but birds and the gentle splash of our paddles.
It reminded us that these are the days that matter—not because they’re perfect, but because we’re together.
And if the kids remember anything from this trip, we hope it’s this:
Even when things go wrong, you can still make it beautiful.
Even when you fall, you can always get back up.
And sometimes, the best memories are the ones where you had to figure it out as you went.
