I have four very independent, strong minded, lovable, know-it-all kids. Two of them are full on teenagers and my 7 year old thinks she should be treated like one. Discussing politics and religion with them, heck with anybody, can be intense and I find it even more so when my 10 year old only wants to relate the current cultural climate to a Batman movie. They are constantly one upping each other, trying to get the last word or the first word or all the words about everything. Dinner conversations tend to be loud if not lively and I find myself constantly trying to reassert to these people that I’m actually in charge.

This is why on weekends, getting my kids up to Schweitzer is critical. You see, skiing and snowboarding is a great family equalizer. They wipe out, I wipe out. Someone throws a tantrum. I throw a tantrum. I giggle, they giggle. They giggle louder, I giggle even louder. Here on the mountain, they’re not fighting over who’s right or wrong or who isn’t pulling their weight with chores, they are focused on figuring out how to ski.

There was a moment a couple of Sundays ago, as I was skiing with 2 of my 4, when it dawned on me just how amazing it was to be watching these people be as fierce and determined skiing as they are at the dinner table. All without a single fight or interruption from anyone. 

This is why I’m a big believer in breaking out of typical routines and trying new things together as a family. All of that incredible energy our kids possess can be channeled into new adventures with us, their unexpectedly fun parents. Honestly, it can be something as simple as taking a lesson or heading to a new run, that will help the whole family find a level playing field on an un-level mountain. And there’s just something to be said for being all together navigating a steep slope.

January is “Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month” and a great time to bring your family together at Schweitzer. Take up something new as a family and make it possible for a worldly-wise mom to be just as much of a novice as the know-it-all-teen. Somewhere between the summit and the end of the run, you might just find a shared passion, a shared experience, and a whole new conversation with your kids. 

This article originally appeared in the January 2017 issue of "Neighbors."