I know it’s December, but it feels early for snow. I think that it’s mentally, I’m not ready for it. It was only a few weeks ago that I was riding Brock and Dancer, and I could work outside without having to come in and thaw my ten little finger popsicles. But, there have been some silver linings with our first snow day of the year.
If it’s going to snow, at least I didn’t have to wake up early to drive the kids to school. We had gotten a call from school the night before, letting us know there was a two-hour delay. When we woke up in the morning, we had the added surprise of a snow day.
If it’s going to snow, at least there’s some help doing the morning chores, and there’s no need to rush. I spent a few lazy minutes in bed before rolling out of bed to stoke the fire, get the animals fed and watered, and clear the walkway. Bonus: some of the kids were outside, already playing in the snow and willing to help while others were inside, cooking me a hot breakfast.
If it’s going to snow, and the kids will be home, making some extra messes, at least I could watch them out the window for some live entertainment.
If it’s going to snow, at least our school district takes advantage of technology, so the kids don’t have to make up too many missed snow days at a later date. I appreciated that each kid showed me what they were learning, and they were able to get through their work quickly, while teaching me a thing or two.
If it’s going to snow, at least we have a functional wood-burning stove for quick and easy warming up. Yes, there is a perpetual pile of snow gear laying in front of it, but it is a rather effective way to dry clothes and warm fingers and toes.
If it’s going to snow, at least all my animals don’t mind it. The horses and cows have coats thicker than sweaters, the chickens puff up and huddle together, the pigs snuggle into their straw, the cats sit lazily in the garage, enjoying the warmth of the boiler. And the dogs? They play like puppies in the snow, and when they need a break, they curl up on their beds and sleep the afternoon away.
If it’s going to snow, and the kids get bored of playing outside, at least they find ways to entertain each other inside. It’s not often enough that they get to have a relatively lazy day with each other. I did my best to let them play as they wished, and to soak up the sounds of a full house. It will not last forever, of which I am well-aware.
If it’s going to snow, and my kids forget their common sense, at least nothing terrible happened. I was shoveling the deck when I heard Kate screaming for someone to pull her back up. I whipped around to watch her coasting down the zipline, holding her toes above the slushy ice water of the pond. It isn’t even close to being frozen enough to walk on it, and thankfully Henry caught her before she dipped into the water, but… yeah… we had a talk about thinking through actions and considering potential consequences.
If it’s going to snow, at least I had help making dinner. Usually everyone is tired after school or is busy with their activities, that they don’t arrive until we’re putting food on the table. A snow day is a welcome reprieve from the normal, which means I can usually coax one or two to help put something together. On this particular snow day, I had five of my seven kids there, battering and frying onion rings and rolling out Nebraska Runzas. It was one of those blissful, near-perfect moments every mother hopes for.
If it’s going to snow, and I’m going to be slightly grumpy about the inconvenience of the world being cold, gray, and slippery, at least I had a day with my family all tucked safely at home with me.
