"Is anything happening at the gym today?" "Can we come hang out at the gym today?" A couple of kids from one of our families had already called me by 10 am on a Wednesday. School was out Tuesday and Wednesday because of the ice and snow. It wasn't the kind of snow that makes a snow day fun, and boredom was beginning to overcome the excitement. The roads were beginning to be clear enough for travel and the siblings were beginning to drive each other (and probably their mom) crazy. Mission Youth Center to the rescue! It's free! It's fun! There are always snacks! Rides provided! Your friends will be there! Once word got around that we were having a play day, I had as many kids as I thought I could manage and then some. A couple of our staff members came to help.

MYC has organized activities for our kids each school day and often during planned breaks from school. Some of the most fun times, however, and some of the best opportunities for building relationships with the kids come from these unplanned times. People are more important than programs and relationships are more important than following a planned agenda. These kids obviously need the boundaries and security that structure provides, but they also just need to have fun with us once in a while. It's good to know that they think of us when they want something to do or somewhere to go, and it's also good to know that the parents trust MYC to be a safe, supervised place to hang out. So, I postponed my errands and office work for the day and gave some kids the opportunity to burn off some energy with some friends and some adults who are crazy enough to spend time with them.