Snow day. These words have changed meaning to me significantly throughout my life. When I was younger I remember staying out in the snow all day, playing with the neighborhood kids until my clothes were soaked completely through. I remember coming in and warming up and placing my gloves on the ledge of the wood stove, and hearing snow sizzle as it melted away. Can you picture it? It was the best time ever. No TV, no Nintendo (yes, I said Nintendo), no computers. Just snow.
Then when I moved into my teenage years, the words "snow day" meant the wonderful news that school was either delayed or cancelled and I would not have to hear the harsh noise of the alarm buzzer the next day. However, in college these words took on a whole new meaning, and a whole new life of it's own. The rare occasions that our university closed are times that I can remember vividly in my mind. Spending the whole day with friends, watching movies and playing games, all with a "few" beverages of course. I remember the poor ZTA's having to run out in their bikini's on the front of the dorm steps and I remember walking over two miles from my apartment to go to a party. Whew. Things have changed since then.
Today was our first official snow day with Olivia, and what a snow day it was! We had roughly 16+ inches here and I could not wait to take Olivia out in the snow. Well, turns out, she was not a fan. And this is how we spent our time in the snow, (mostly with Olivia not happy):
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| At least the neighbors liked the snow! |
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| Not a fan.... |
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| Maybe she wasn't happy because she had 5 layers on... |
Between shoveling snow and entertaining Olivia inside and outside, my husband and I were exhausted. Gone are the days of a relaxing snow day! But I realized that instead I found myself with a true family day. And despite the fact that I can barely lift my arms, there was not one beverage poured, and Olivia cried most of the day, it was truly a perfect day. Most likely the emergence of her last molar coming in was part of her crankiness, but it is still funny to see how she reacts to things. She seemed to pout that she was outside in wet snow, but any other time we walk outside into the cold she takes a deep breath, laughs and turns and smiles at me. She loves the cold (she is clearly her father's daughter!) But apparently, not she is not in love with the wet snow.
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| This snow business is NOT cool, Mom... |
I have always had trouble getting over my past experiences, and accepting that things have changed, that LIFE has changed. I no longer have the ability to relax, watch movies and essentially do nothing on a snow day. But what I do have is the ability to spend time with my family, my neighbors and friends and take a break from the everyday grind. So for now I am going to accept where I am in life and enjoy the extra time I have with my precious Olivia and amazing husband because one day it will be Olivia that is outside all day playing in the snow, and she won't need me there to hold her hand. She will make her own memories and learn what the phenomenal words "snow day" are really all about.
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