My vision of an ideal snow day involves lounging by the window in my cozy bathrobe and fuzzy socks, savoring a hot cup of tea while watching the snowflakes dance to the ground. Meanwhile, my kids are practically glued to the door, eager to dive into the winter wonderland as soon as that first flake falls. More often than not, I pass the responsibility onto my partner, throwing out excuses like, “I need to tidy up!” or “I’ll whip up some hot chocolate to warm you up!”
Honestly, I’m not the biggest fan of snow. It’s frigid, messy, and I can do without being bombarded by snowballs from my energetic little boys. So, I watch from inside as they construct their snowmen while I “clean” and ensure that the cocoa I’ve been “working hard on” is piping hot when they return.
But alas, escaping the snow is not an option for me. Living in the Northeast means that for about a month and a half, snow is an unavoidable presence. Every day, I walk my kids to school, and when snow blankets the ground, our quick stroll morphs into a lengthy snow-filled adventure.
What is it about kids and snow? They seem to have an irresistible attraction to it. My 10-year-old is starting to lose some of that wonder, but my 4-year-old? Totally captivated.
Every winter morning, a trek to school with my little one involves dodging around 25 snowballs, a fair share of “ice skating” (or just falling on his backside), and about 50 handfuls of snow sampled (“Nothing yellow or brown!” I find myself reminding him). He leaps onto every snowbank he can find, and I’m constantly pulling his shivering, snow-covered body out of them.
And let me tell you, when it’s 8 a.m., and I’m trying to herd a pack of dawdlers down the street to make it to school on time — so I can get to work too — I have little patience for those antics.
However, the other day, after dropping off his big brother at elementary school, my perspective shifted. As we headed to pre-K, my snow-covered little guy veered off course, knocking snow off every bush in sight. I checked my watch and felt my frustration boiling.
“Can we hurry up?” I called out as he dashed away.
He turned back, a handful of snow in his mitten, his eyes wide with wonder. “But, Mommy, it’s so magical, isn’t it?” he said.
There’s nothing quite like the pure, unfiltered innocence of a child to bring you back to reality. Little ones are blissfully unaware of time or responsibilities. They don’t know what day it is or how many minutes they’re “wasting” by exploring every flake of snow in sight. All they see is a world transformed by beautiful white stuff, and it blows their minds.
You know how some cultures have dozens of names for snow because they recognize its various forms? My son is like that, inspecting each type of snow with curiosity and asking a barrage of questions about its different textures. He’s learning about nature, science, and the seasons, developing his muscles and honing his balance. Plus, he’s picking up lessons about when snow is safe to eat (spoiler: fresh snow is usually fine).
So this winter, I’ve decided to let my kids relish every moment in the snow. I’ll carve out a little extra time each morning to let them frolic as long as they wish. I’ll try not to fret if they are a tad late to school (I know this view isn’t popular with everyone) or if they return home absolutely caked in snow.
I’m going to allow them to enjoy snow for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I’ll work on managing my impatience, frustration, and the chill that seeps into my bones so they can make memories while they’re still innocent and full of joy.
Our children have just a brief window to embrace their childhood, to see the world through the ecstatic lens of youth. They have fleeting moments to appreciate the freezing, slushy, messy snow not as a nuisance but as a miracle.
So let’s bundle up, set aside our objections, and let them dive in. And to my sweet son: you were right. It really is magical.
This post was originally published on Jan. 13, 2017. If you’re interested in more insights, check out another blog post on home insemination here.
Summary:
This article reflects on the joy children find in snow and the importance of allowing them to explore and enjoy their childhood without the constraints of adult responsibilities. It emphasizes the need for parents to embrace the magic of winter and create lasting memories, even amidst the cold and mess.