Never Make a Decision During Snow Storm – Literally or Figuratively

Published May 14, 1987. I had to chuckle a bit yesterday. Jon, our 13 year-old son, returned from his paper route. “This is sure a good job,” he said as he got off his bicycle. “Delivering these papers takes less than a half hour. And it’s pretty good money for the time involved.”

Jon is right. Delivering the newspapers is a good job for him and dozens of others. Particularly in the summer and during good weather.  On Sundays the newspapers are quiet large, and during the past three years, I have gotten up each Sunday morning at 6 a.m. and have taken him in the car to deliver his Sunday papers.

I remember one Sunday last January. I called Jon at 5:30 and told him it was time to get up and pass his newspapers. He was tired, but he got up anyway and put on his hat, heavy coat, gloves and rubber boots.

The reality of that early morning hour struck him when he opened the front door, and a gust of cold air blew in. There also to greet us was nearly one foot of new snow swirling around in the cold morning wind.

Jon closed the door. “I don’t know if the paper route is worth it,” he said. “Look at the snow out there. Just open the door and see how cold it is.”

I did and he was right. It was cold and there was nearly a foot of snow. I told him we couldn’t quit now, but would talk about it while delivering the papers.

During that snowy, windy morning, Jon kept reminding himself and me how unpleasant it is to deliver newspapers on cold winter days. He continually questioned whether or not he should continue with his paper route.

As we drove from house to house I also began to think. It really was quite unpleasant and difficult. We got stuck once that morning and Jon had to help push the Mercury out of the snow. We finished the paper route and started for home. Should we quit or continue?

Finally I said to my young son, now numb with cold, “Jon, you should never decide about paper routes during a snow storm.”

What I meant was that major decisions should never be made during times of discomfort or stress. Jon and I then talked about the snow and how the worst would be over in a few weeks. We reminisced about spring, summer, and fall seasons and how he felt during those times. He admitted it was much more pleasant then and was a pretty good job for the time and amount of money involved.

Jon obviously kept his paper route, and each day now he whizzes around the neighborhood on his bicycle. In about 30 minutes he is finished and earns his spending money. But he now knows another winter will come.

Major decisions in life need plenty of time and thought for consideration. This includes decision about getting into and out of a marriage.

Years ago sociologist William Goode dispelled a myth about quick divorces in his book “After Divorce.” He reported that the vast majority of couples who divorce take a significant amount of time to make the decision. They usually contemplate divorce for a year before taking the final action.

These couples realize they had much invested in the relationship and do not want to make a premature or unwise decision. They also know the value of not making major decisions quickly or under stress.

It turned out to be good advice for my son: “Never make decisions about a newspaper route during a snowstorm.” It may also have merit for those contemplating divorce.