Freebies

We have a snow day! As if I were the twelve year old facing the prospect of having to go to school the next day, I stayed up ridiculously late last night anxiously watching for our school system to appear at the bottom of the news screen. When it finally did, this crazy glee settled over me because we'd been give a FREEBIE! The release of one's regular responsibilities for one day can infuse a happiness that is palpable throughout the whole household. It doesn't really matter that there is not even enough snow to prevent the grass blades from poking through, or that the temperature is frigidly (and I mean really frigid - high in the 20s) cold with a wind chill to boot. The excitement on the kids' faces will be worth any amount of wet, dirty clothes and drippy footprints everywhere. My job now will be to provide copious amounts of hot chocolate and fireplaces to warm their frozen fingers.

However, one can't escape the constant question of the day: what do we have for dinner? The corny, homespun, memory-maker in me wants to make a meal like chili or stew or something equally comforting and enveloping. But the mother in me knows that, for whatever reason, the kids will not be overly excited about that "meal in a bowl" concept. The "meat and three" formula is more up their alley. Have I failed as a mother? Obviously I have. Why won't they embrace the warm, meat and vegetable melange of a thick beef stew with carrots and potatoes? Add a side of crispy-on-the-outside french bread and a fresh, cold salad and life is complete. Warms your body and your mind! There are visions of cabins, lightly falling snow, flickering fires, fingerless mittens, smiling children who get along with one another...ahh, I can see it now.

Ugh. Back to reality. A reality which includes inane arguments, whiny children (because it's cold and they are exhausted), and a general dissension amongst the troops when dinner is presented. Do I sound cynical? Hopefully I am overstating this a little and the atmosphere today will remain happy and carefree. I will do my best to ensure that it does because ultimately, the kids turn to me to maintain the right attitude. I promise not to freak out when they leave all the bits of their drippy winter attire all over the floor, or when the muddy footprints dot the carpet. I promise to keep my eye on the ball and remember that today is a freebie with my kids, even if they do complain about the food. After all, that's nothing new. - K