A snow day reality check

For a teacher, a snow day is usually a welcome respite from the day to day crammed schedule of the school life. For the A type/list maker-self, I was eagerly gearing up for being able to cross things off my to-do list today. I welcomed the surprise opportunity that this snow day would afford me at home. I had great plans of being able to grade papers, clean the house, fold laundry, finally put away all the tubs of Christmas decorations that are just stacked in the basement, maybe I would even get a chance to read a book or post my first blog! As the day progressed, I was made well- aware that none of these things would be on my agenda. Well, who was I kidding anyway, I am a mom of a 6 year old and 2 year old. My 6 and 2 year old were at each others throats by 9:00 am. My 2 year old daughter was unusually cranky, whiny, demanding just over-all cantankerous. In between requests of “Hold me mommy” and “Can you pick me up?” I tried to grade a few papers, or check facebook. But the two of them couldn’t seem to play and get along five minutes. I tried to change over the laundry while getting in a quick phone conversation with my sister in Arizona only to hear screaming and fighting once again. In one last attempt to make lunch, I hear shouts “I want Macaroni and Cheese! Make Mac and Cheese” While I was still preparing everyone’s lunch, she screams from the other room, “Are you making my biscuits and gravy? Where’s my biscuits and gravy?” I swear she repeated these demands 150 times before I could get anything made and placed in front of her in hopes that it was the “right” food item that she would eat. Needless to say,I was getting a little frustrated and irritated. After lunch, I jumped on Pinterest searching for a wondrous craft or indoor activity for the kids that would magically save the day, when I saw this quote, “

Whoa! Talk about knock me back to reality! You are so right. What was I thinking? Where were my real priorities? Wow I am such an idiot!

So I took a few steps back, picked up my little girl and held her close. We snuggled and played then I decided, “Yes, let’s make that moonsand from Pinterest. Instead of setting it in front of them and hoping it occupied them for awhile and bought me some peace and quiet, I sat down in the middle of the kitchen floor with my sweet babies and played in our homemade moonsand and....... it was FUN!!! We played, laughed and talked for two hours! It was sooo worth it! For dinner we made homemade pizzas and topped off the night with jacuzzi bubble baths for the kids.

There is a possibility of another snow day tomorrow. I am actually looking forward to it but this time with a new outlook. Maybe it will be a day we don't get out of our jammies, sip hot cocoa, peer out the window in awe of the snowfall, pop popcorn and watch movies all day!! It won’t be a day wasted. It will be a day spent making memories. Whatever the day may bring, I say “Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow!!”