I really don’t like snow. It is wet and cold and messy. It gets all over my car, covers my shoes, gets tracked in the house, and generally is a nuisance. Honestly, who out there really likes the snow? Seriously?! If it was up to me, there would be a rule that says it can only snow twice a year. It could only snow enough to ensure I can give my kids their sledding fix and then, poof, magically all the snow is gone. It wouldn’t be a rule; it would be a law, a law that made it illegal for the snow to stay on the ground for longer than 2 hours. We could hire an army of workers to melt the snow with hairdryers and space heaters if nature didn’t cooperate. I really don’t like snow.
Ironically though, I love snow days, and not just because I get the day off of work. As a teacher, I enjoy an unexpected day off school as much as my students do, but that isn’t the reason I love snow days. What I love is the time I get to spend with my kids and the memories we get to make playing out in that abominable white stuff. Some of my fondest memories with my kids involve the construction of snowmen, snow forts, snow angles, and of course, sledding. It is amazing how something as simple as throwing a shovel full of snow at my oldest son can create such lasting memories.
I got I chance to make some of those memories this week as my kids and I enjoyed our first (a hopefully last, man I don’t like the snow) snow days of 2011. Needless to say, my children were extremely excited that they didn’t have to go to school on Monday and Tuesday (except for my little girl who actually cried when she found out she didn’t get to see her friends at daycare). By 10:00 a.m. Monday morning, they were already bundled up and ready to tackle the snow. Grudgingly, I bundled up as well and took my kids out sledding on the neighbor’s hill. After pulling my daughter around on her sled for several minutes and watching the boys “barrel” down the hill a couple of times, I busted out the snow shovel and started shoveling the walk (which was an exercise in futility because it was still snowing and I had to shovel again later in the evening). It was when I was bent over the shovel, scooping snow off the front porch that the fun began.
As I was shoveling, my oldest son filled his blue plastic disk sled with snow, ran over to me and dumped it on me. He thought the whole sequence hilarious, but he didn’t stop to consider how quickly I could retaliate. Instead of throwing my shovel full of snow into the yard, I threw it at him. For the next 30 minutes, it was an all out snow war, with my kids throwing sledfuls of snow at me while I pummeled them with shovelfuls. My boys began very adept at using the sleds as shields. After receiving an earful of snow, I finally decided to call it quits. I finished shoveling the walk and herded the kids inside for hot chocolate, warm blankets, and some T.V. time.
Now, I didn’t think much of our snow battle at the time, but the story has already reached “legendary” status in our house. I have heard my snow telling and retelling friends, neighbors, and relatives about how he attacked me with a sled full of snow. After only three days, the time I spent battling in the snow with my kids is already one of those special memories. Who knew? I really don’t like the snow. Really, I can’t stand the stuff. There is absolutely nothing I like about snow … except the memories I make with my children.
What special memories did you make with you children over the snow days?