Yes, three days in a row of being trapped at home, unable to play outside for fear of our faces freezing off, and unable to drive anywhere for fear of southern drivers who have no clue how to drive on ice. Three days in a row of Hubby being out of town on business, I was/am having a major pity party.
High temp yesterday was 19 degrees...today I think it's warming up to around 22. Won't get above freezing until Saturday afternoon.
So yes...when they announced school closings for the third day in a row, and I ran out of entertaining ideas about three days ago, slight panic ensued.
I needed a boost. I needed a light at the end of the tunnel. All of you northerners, I salute you. I can't imagine living in these conditions for three days, let alone three months during the winter. I promise to never complain again when it feels like summer in January.
So, I haven't been very fun to be around this week. But last night, my sweet baby, precious angel of a child, provided me with just the boost I needed.
We pulled out the home movies last night before bedtime. Suddenly my pity party became a full blown pity extravaganza as I watched home videos of two adorable babies who couldn't possibly be these same children sitting next to me. Babies speaking in broken sentences, wearing diapers, lisping, and generally looking more adorable than I can handle. Seriously, I was on the brink of a meltdown.
Then we put in a video that Brent's mom put together for our wedding. It is a montage of our childhood pictures put to music. Not five minutes into the video, pictures of our pre-teen years began to appear on the screen. Everyone knows that is not a good age for anyone. Awkward and goofy, there aren't many people who can escape that torturous time. I was no exception.
Exhibit A:
You know I am a confident adult when I can post this picture for the world to see. (But if I'm being honest, I absolutely adored that vest.)Upon viewing this picture, Lauryn politely tried to reassure me that I looked, "ummm...a little different. But pretty. I mean you look different but still pretty, Mom."
Thanks, Lauryn.
Allie then asked me to pause the video. She ran up to the t.v. and pointed at my head and said, "What is that hat you are wearing?"
Ok y'all. I haven't laughed that hard in a loooong time. I had tears streaming down my face. Lauryn was nervous, patting my arm, kind of chuckling along. I think she was waiting to see if these were happy tears or not!
When I regained my composure, I explained that there was no hat...just a bad fashion decade. She then asked, "Oh....so you just had a bad hair day?"
I think I passed out after that. Can't be sure.
God has amazing ways of hitting us on the head and opening our eyes. I realized I was wasting these precious days with my girls by complaining and being grumpy about being bored, cold, and lonely (hubby still out of town until tomorrow) :(
Instead, we have had three days of no running around, no rushing to eat dinner to get to the next practice or meeting, no race to finish homework. We have uninterrupted time together.
Today I have a whole new perspective. And we are supposed to get more snow tonight and tomorrow, increasing our already huge chance of a fourth snow day at home.
And nothing would make me happier!
3 comments:
Thanks for the perspective! We aren't snowed in but because of the freezing temps and my husband being a chemical engineer at a chemical plant that doesn't do well with freezing temps, he has had to work 7 pm to 7 am this week and it has stunk! No preschool and we are going a little nuts here inside and I don't want to get my ear infected boy out in the cold. But you are right, I look at them sometimes and think how fast they are growing up and don't want to forget to cherish these times together because I know I will miss them soooo much later.
And by the way, your girls' comments crack me up. Hilarous little personalities.
Ha!! And we thought that hair was IT! I love their comments!!
First of all, let me clarify on the northerners comment. We have more like 5 months of winter. I think it snowed in October last year? And, there is still no relief in sight. 3 months sounds like heaven to me.
Second. That picture, and the hat comment made me almost pee my pants. I remember that vest, and I remember that hair. Oh how I love you for posting that. It almost makes me want to dig up one of mine....maybe.
Enjoy your next storm!! It's better to have 22 degrees and snow, than -2 degrees and no snow! :)
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