Friday, August 18, 2017

Keeping Everyone Comfortable

I remember bits and pieces from my high school life, but for some reason, one of the memories that is crystal clear is the day I accepted a ride home from choir from one of my friends. It was a freezing winter night, and when we climbed into his car, the air blowing out of the vents was immediately warm. I was totally comfortable within the first minute after shivering across the parking lot. He laughed at me as I marveled over this fact. But after an entire childhood of shivering in the backseat, waiting first for the vents to produce hot air, then what felt like an eternity for that air to reach us, a car that was warm right away was AMAZING. I didn't ride in his car every time we left rehearsal, but whenever I did, I always noted the temperature - whether his car was warming me up or cooling me down.

Comfort is key.

Now, plenty of cars have a faster working climate control, and most big SUVs or minivans have vents throughout the cabin. When my sister first upgraded to her minivan, it was a novelty to be able to set one temperature for the front seats and another for the back. But my car, along with most small SUVs or sedans, has one set of controls and one set of vents.

On mild or cool days, it doesn't matter. But when it's really hot or really cold, I end up blasting the air in front while the girls whine about sweating or shivering, and then I have extreme temps up front as I try to get all that air back to them. So annoying.

There IS a solution, which is amazing to me. This handy device blows air right into the backseat.

I know, I know, first world problems. But since I remember so clearly riding in a car where this wasn't an issue, even when I can't remember the driver's face or last name, I know that comfort is key. If you're comfortable, you know it, and it can change your whole perspective.

I was thinking about that as I was setting up our school areas. I know that many homeschoolers set up "school" in their homes. School style desks, usually facing a wall. Rooms adorned with white boards and posters. They are absolutely beautiful spaces, well worthy of Pinterest.

But two years ago, when I first started homeschooling Madison and wanted a beautiful school space, I realized that I wanted a space to look pretty, but really, what we needed, was a way to do school that was comfortable. Sometimes that means the girls sit at the table. Sometimes they curl up in an armchair with a clipboard. Sometimes we go work in a coffee shop. Sometimes they sprawl on the floor. As long as they are learning and working, comfort is key right now.

Because when you are comfortable, everything is just BETTER.


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