Ahhhh...Snow Days
Remember the childhood anticipation of waking and wondering if there was a large accumulation of snow on the ground? Anticipating the announcement that school was cancelled due to the weather? The roar of approval, the whopping for joy when you heard that your school was closed for the day? We had that here today with our first storm of the season. The kids were so thrilled! I remember the feeling so well, but let me tell you, a memory is all it is now. I felt like that kid in Home Alone when he slaps on aftershave over newly shaved skin for the first time...NOOOOOOO!!!!
The morning went well enough. The kids were all buzzing with excitement because of the cancellations streaming across the bottom of the television screen. I made a big, hearty breakfast which was wolfed down in milliseconds. Afterward, they tore down the stairs to various video screens for hours of mind numbing entertainment courtesy of wii, Nintendo and dell computers. After an hour and a half or so of this, I called them up to change and get busy with chores. Big mistake.
I have heard all the experts talk about how bad it is to let your kids watch too much t.v. and play too many video games. I know it is not good for developing brains and developing bodies. What the experts don't tell you is that it is good for busy, stressed out mother. Once the screens went blank, all hell broke lose. Wrestling over socks. Headlocks over legos. Stuffed animals and worn pajamas thrown over the top railing just to how far they could fly and/or on whom they could land. My headache started just about as the last of the screeching, stuffed monkeys hit the first floor. The frown lines on my forehead have grown exponentially since 10 o'clock this morning.
Just when I thought my head would pop off, the power went out. Mind you, I thought I was prepared for this inevitability, since the forecast called for wet, heavy snow. No, I was not nearly mentally prepped for this little wrinkle in our snow day. You would have thought that the roof was caving in. It was noon time in full daylight and still the kids are running around screaming that they can't find the flashlights and they are scared of the dark. I started a fire in the fireplace (not in the middle of the living room as I fantasized) and then herded them outside for an afternoon of winter wonderland fun.
It took about 40 minutes to get everyone bundled up so tight that knees barely bent, but we finally made it out the door. The initial snowballs, footprints and snowflakes on tongues were such a welcome change from the chaos of cabin fever. I didn't mind shoveling the walk nor did I mind being pelted with snowballs. We moved on to snowman making, which was very successful due to the wet, sticky snow. What wasn't successful was telling Jacob he couldn't pull the arms out of the snowman because he proceeded to kick the crap out of it. When he was done, it looked like the Calvin and Hobbes cartoon of the car wreck snowmen. More wrestling and screaming ensued. Oh, winter wonderland of fun!
Now the power is back on and so is the television. Blessed peace descends upon the land. After another Diet Coke and a hit of some Godiva chocolates I have been saving for a Christmas gift, I will once again insist that the t.v. be turned off and imaginations be engaged. Come to think of it, I think I should take Advil or two as well... I'm hoping that the snow plows are working overtime and the bus driver is ready to go at exactly 8:25 tomorrow morning. I don't think I can take another snow day. I'll be the only one here whopping for joy when there is no scrolling list of cancellations on my t.v. screen. Man, I love school.
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