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SNOW DAY…

January 12, 2011

I am in New York. It snows a lot here. Especially this winter.

Today, we received our second blizzard of the season so school and work are both shut down. I was like a kid on Christmas morning when I woke up to check on the weather and found out I didn’t have to get up. I snuggled deep into the covers and dreamed of a perfect winter day. Playing in the snow. Sipping hot cocoa. Reading my kindle. Eating junk food. Pure heaven.

As the day progressed, I realized I have children.

Stupid, huh? I mean, of course I have children. I knew this. But somehow, I believed that today was my own. Thought they’d amuse themselves enough where I could steal some time to do nothing or work on my writing.

But I have children. Demanding children. Some of it was fun, don’t get me wrong. I like making them a big breakfast in the morning like I am a short cook at a diner. I even managed to squeeze in my own mini bagel with cream cheese in between demands. I gave them baths.  I read. I played CandyLand and Scooby Doo Trouble. I dressed one of them up in a million layers and sent him out in the snow to help my husband shovel. The older one looked at me like I was crazy and told me he was staying in his pajamas and watching DVDs.

So, I seized my moment and went off to the computer. Was called in to get him a snack right after breakfast. Then more juice. Then he got bored with the DVD and wanted to play the Go Fishing game. Then wanted to have a coloring contest.

Then the little one was shoved through the door by my husband and I had to strip him, dry him and proceed to make hot cocoa. Then played Elafun. Why, oh God, did I think buying a lot of games for Christmas was a good idea?

I desperately looked for anything on television to get them out of my hair but they wanted me. ALL DAY.

Bad Mommy.

The day is almost over and now I have to make dinner, entertain them some more and go to bed. Where was my fun day? Why did they have to give up naps? Why don’t’ they do things themselves?

I know I spoil them. Don’t mean to – as a first time mom my defense is stupidity. Half the time, I had to ask around to see what they should be doing next. I didn’t find out till months later that I should have stopped feeding them and let them feed themselves. Or clean up . Or actually dress/undress themselves. My older one is too smart and plays like he doesn’t know how to do it. He got into kindergarten and it seems his teacher doesn’t play that game, so all of a sudden he is doing things that amaze me. I can’t believe the whole time he could open his own juice box! Unbelievable…

I want a do-over. Preferably with them at school, my husband at work, and only my job closed.

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  1. Jen, The only hope is that they get older, more independent and let you have a time of your own. When my boys were teenagers, the put one of those chains of numbers outside my study door and told everyone “If you want to talk to Mom, you must take a number and wait until she enters the real world.:

  2. Angelique says:

    I wanted one of those snow days too! My day began with shoveling snow & then thanks to the internet I’ve been working from home all day – well at least I didn’t have to commute on the delayed trains. When it snowed last Friday, I, of course, shoveled. Then just as I was about to take my grumbling self inside to dry off I plopped down into the snow to make a couple of snow angels. – ha!

  3. Nancy Chaudhry says:

    It gets better as they get older (but only a little).

  4. Theresa says:

    Jen,
    Now that I have been home no better my dad hurt his shoulder so now me and my mom have to shovel, needless to say we will do it tomorrow. I am one lazy chick and I didn’t do anything. I know it is hard when you have kids for sure. My brother I don’t know how he did it but I remember going over his house when they were younger and my brother and sis in law were asleep the kids were getting there own cereal, when they were like 8 and 6 but maybe my brother felt like he had a break cause I was there. How rude!!! lol I never got any sleep when they were really little they would wake me up Aunt Tee Tee play with me noooooooo!!!!! lol! Only difference I can go home and be alone in my room for the rest of the night!!

  5. Can I have that do over too? Although we really didn’t get alot of snow here. It was all gone by the end of the day.

    Abbi 🙂

  6. Liz says:

    Oh you are such a good mommy! Enjoy it now – when they are older you’ll be like “where are you going?”

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