I know that there is a lot of grumbling about the weather we’ve been having this winter. But I have to say, I love a snowstorm that totally shuts down life as we know it.
For many, winter weather is a major headache. But for a family that’s usually running 24/7 — an epic snowstorm can be an amazing salve. Suddenly life is still. No one can go anywhere — not to school, not to a friend’s house, not to the mall and especially not to any sports practices. Even my husband’s work shut down last Thursday. It was a mandatory family day — the best gift ever.
I woke up every few hours on Wednesday night to watch the snow fall. For me, falling snow is the next best thing to an ocean view. It is so quiet and calming. By Thursday morning, we had more than a foot of snow. When we snapped up the shades, we saw some crazy guy jogging down our street and decided it was a great idea. So my husband and I strapped Yaktrax to our running shoes and hit the snow-covered streets together. It was beautiful and exhilarating (until it started to rain).
The rest of the day my husband and kids shoveled while I worked from home. It was peaceful bliss. On Thursday evening, a few neighbors came over for a chili dinner. As more snow fell, we sat by the fire and caught up for the first time since summer.
For one day, the cars never left the driveway, and I relaxed like I haven’t in a long time.
Even though the kids were still off on Friday, life went back to normal. Chris had to go back to work, the kids wanted out of the house and swim practice was back on. It’s not often that snow brings daily life to a complete halt and it never lasts long, but I so love it when it happens.
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FranklyStein is a blog by Chesapeake Family Magazine editor Betsy Stein who lives in Catonsville with her husband, Chris, and four children, Maggie, 14, Lilly, 13, Adam, 13, and Jonah, 9.
