My seven-year-old daughter snuggled closer. We were reading stories before it was time for her to go to sleep.
This ritual in the evening had crawled closer to my heart recently. My ten-year-old no longer needed me to read to him and, as my daughter grew older, I realized how fleeting this part of the bedtime routine would be.
“Snowballs. Whoosh! Whoosh!” I read. “Snowman. Pat-a-slap. Sled. Kwoosh! Thud! Trudge!”
We were reading “Snow Day” by Lynn Plourde. It’s a poetic story of a family of four’s snow day activities, including cuddling, sledding, smiling, shoveling, cuddling, and drinking hot cocoa by the fire.
And then my daughter said it.
“How come you’re not like the Snow Day mom?”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“You’re cranky on snow days.”
Dagger. Through the heart.
I don’t consider myself cranky on snow days. But she did.
On snow days, I remember baking chocolate chip cookies with her and her brother. But she must remember the tension in the morning as my husband and I juggle who stays home with the kids.
On snow days, I remember the time we built a snow fort in the backyard and drank hot chocolate. But she must remember my irritation when it’s 10 am and I just want them to stop saying they’re bored.
On snow days, I remember taking the kids sledding and building a snowman. But she must remember my irritation at being confined in the house, feeling guilty I’m not at work while feeling guilty that I’m not a super mom who can build snowmen and make hot chocolate not just once, but ALL DAY.
I wish I could be that Snow Day mom for her. I do. And sometimes in my mind I am. But it’s important that I give myself grace for not being the Snow Day mom. Because I’m not perfect. And she should know that.
I think what her words hammered home that I am only as good as my last snow day in her mind. So I will have another chance to be that Snow Day mom.
And, because I live in Michigan, I’ll have another and another and another and another chance to be that Snow Day mom over the next few years!
Are you a good snow day mom?
Oh no! Well, Brady always tells me I’m serious. I tell him sometimes I have to be, but then I try to laugh, kid and joke more after that. Since we’re self-employed, most snow days I stay home with him, and we do typical stuff, but in the summer, he gets hauled to the office with me twice a week and we have to try to come up with a routine and I get all flustered trying to parent and work at the same time. Hey, we’re human and when there’s a change in the routine, it’s difficult. She will NOT remember the irritation when she’s older. She’ll remember the snow fort.
Steph @ From the Burbs to the Boonies recently posted…I’d like a soda? Wait, no, a pop. Or is it coke?
Thanks for your kind affirmation, Steph! I think one day she will remember just the fun of staying home from school and NOT that I wasn’t her BFF all day long.
Katy @ Experienced Bad Mom recently posted…The Snow Day Mom
Living in Washington, it’s easy to be a fun snow day mom since we only have one every year or so. When we lived in Michigan it was much harder. Especially when there were a couple snow days in a row, like you guys just had. We all do our best, and I’m sure the next snow day you’ll be the fun mom…now, the third snow day in a row might be a different story 😉
Rhonda recently posted…Jack Kingston: The “No Free Lunch” Douchebag
I’m not sure I’ll ever see that 3 in a row snow day apocalypse again in my lifetime (knock on wood)! But we did bake cookies last week. And try a new restaurant on Day 3. 🙂
I’m a horrible snow day mom! “we can’t go outside because it’s too hot/cold/wet/icy/dark.” I hate going out and playing in the snow. I even go so far as to try and keep the kids away from the windows so they don’t even know it has snowed!
Rabia @TheLiebers recently posted…I Hope You Mess Up Big Time or Why Failure is Good For You
Rabia, I think I love you! I was laughing when I read “I even go so far as to try and keep the kids away from the windows so they don’t even know it has snowed!” 🙂
Katy @ Experienced Bad Mom recently posted…The Snow Day Mom
Well, let me explain HERE: http://themomcafe.com/schoolsnowday/
I actually start the snow days in the best mood ever! Then quickly dwindle down to a suffocating snarky mess… oh it gets old real fast around here!
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