A Family Tradition for Thunderstorms

I think I started a new tradition for our family.

Last night we had a huge thunderstorm with storm clouds looming, lightning and thunder crashing, and welcome rain that pours all night and floods the ground. I love when it rains. My two little kids hate the thunder and lightning.

We had been watching the weather all afternoon, and it started just after my kids’ bedtime. We tucked the kids into bed, kisses, lights out, and just five minutes later the lightning began.

I knew it was coming—the cries from the kids’ rooms that lightning was scary. I knew it would be impossible to get the kids to go to sleep. I resolve to put blackout curtains in their windows before next time.

My daughter ran into the living room and hid under the blanket on the couch. It’s the first storm of spring. I imagined spending the next hour reassuring our kids and trying to get them to go to sleep, but then I had a better idea.

Popcorn?

She’s completely confused why I would recommend doing this. “But I already brushed my teeth!” says my rule follower.

We head into the kitchen. She runs and gets the bowl. I heat up the stove. Making popcorn on the stove only takes two minutes. Heat a few tablespoons of grapeseed or coconut oil, pour in a layer of kernels, cover it with the lid, and shake the pot over the burner. My favorite part is when the kernels all explode within the same few seconds and the lid almost comes off.

My littlest one runs into the kitchen too. He’s wearing striped pajamas, and he’s so scared that he’s clutching three of his stuffed animal friends for protection. He gets his own small bowl.

Buttery fingers, giggling, tummies full of popcorn, they forgot about the storm. An hour later the lightning gave forth to steady rain, and the kids went to bed happy.

Thunderstorms just became something positive for our family, and now I’m looking for other new traditions to start.

Photo credit: Thinkstock