My kids have not gone to school in more than a week. They were dismissed early last Wednesday in a snowstorm, and the schools haven’t been open since. The administration keeps telling us they’re shoveling the schools’ roofs…with a single teaspoon, apparently. You may begin feeling sorry for me now.
But not that sorry — because I remember what it’s like when every day is a “snow day” — when you’re stuck in the house with a baby or a toddler or a preschooler, or two or three or four, and there isn’t any school to go to and it just will not stop snowing.
My best girlfriend and I used to laugh at the moms of older kids who’d complain about the endlessness of February school vacation — we’d be like, “Suck it up, whiners, do you forget that this is our lives — figuring out fun and cheap things to fill up day after day after day of frigid temps and ice-covered sidewalks?”
As a mom of little ones, you’re torn between staying home and going stir crazy or going out and nearly killing yourself dealing with all the winter baby gear.
This prayer is for you gals who have been brave enough to venture forth this winter — it’s the true story of the time I almost froze my babies by dragging them out in a full-on blizzard. (P.S. They survived!)
Prayer for the Snowsuit [excerpt]
Dear God,
I admit, maybe it was a little crazy dragging a three-month-old and a three-year-old out into what’s been forecast as an all-day blizzard. But hey, fresh air is good for children, right?
We bundled up, we jumped out of the way of the plows, we made it to our neighbor’s house in one piece, and we had a good long playdate.
But now it’s time to go home, and suddenly it seems easier to summit Mt. Everest than wrestle two overtired kids into snowsuits, boots, hats, mittens, and neck warmers. The baby in particular, Lord, getting him into his snowsuit is like trying to put pantyhose on a starfish.
If you could send him some peaceful vibes — and unstick this zipper — I’d be eternally grateful. Amen.
Tags: infants, mommy prayers, pantyhose, preschoolers, snow, starfish, toddlers, winter
mommy prayers 
February 16, 2011 at 11:40 am |
I do remember those early snowsuit days when by the time they were dressed you were sweating with the exertion of just wrangling them into all of the gear!
February 21, 2011 at 3:17 pm |
Don’t forget the times when you’d just get everyone dressed and outside, and the potty training toddler would need to go, the baby and 5 year old accompanying you back to the bathroom, stripping layers off as they waited…..those were the days! Almost makes the teenager sneaking joints in his bedroom look easy.
February 21, 2011 at 9:27 pm |
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by blissmamaof3, Tracy Mayor. Tracy Mayor said: Blogging on babies and blizzards: It's not the snow, it's the ^%#% snow suit…. http://fb.me/G5RhihWL […]
July 20, 2011 at 2:25 pm |
Tracy – Just found your blog. I read about your book in Writer’s Digest in an article about Daniel Lazar, the agent with Writers House. Your blog is hilarious. I also write about being a Frazzled Mom along the same style as yours. My blog is 5minutesforthefrazzledmom.blogspot.com. Please don’t think I’m being pushy!!! It’s just that my writing is somewhat similar. Can’t wait to read your book!
July 25, 2011 at 1:44 pm |
Hey, Cathy, great to hear from you. Heading over to check out your blog now!