Transplanting a Seattleite

I agree with you that people in general, and generally children in particular do better when things happen in the order and manner which they expect them to happen. An order of events and expectations about that order of events are well within the meaning of schedule. Just because _I_ tend to think that schedules imply specific times doesn't mean that the dictionary and/or other speakers of English agree with me. ;-)

I'm bemused by the idea that I have a great excuse for overreacting. To me, it's a set of life experiences that led to a particular conclusion. To someone else, with a very different set of life experiences, it's an uncalled for conclusion, but makes sense given what I've got to work with. I can understand, intellectually, the alternative perspective.

But it's so much easier for me to be around children when I don't have anything particular planned. And if I am around children with a particular plan, it's so much easier if there's no particular time frame.