It's our first official snow day as a family that has a child attending school. Yee Haw. In less than 12 hours, my plans for this morning went from having NO children at home to having BOTH children at home. Jake was going to be at school and Olivia was going to gymnastics for their kids day out program from 9:30-1:30. I was "planning" on cleaning and working up a storm while they were gone so I wouldn't have to do any of that this evening or this weekend while we were all home together. Mother nature apparently didn't like that plan.
O'well.......the house is in even more of a mess, the laundry is still piled up, and work will always be there, but
we had a blast playing out in the snow and eating real snow cones. Brrrrrr. The backyard measured about 9 inches and the snow is very fluffy. Not so good for forts or for building snowmen and Jake's saucer sled didn't seem to work very well either, but Olivia's long pink sled did the trick and the kids (neighbor kids included) made many trips up and down the hill. They should sleep long and hard this afternoon. The one thing that did bum me out a little bit was that I was the only parent out with the kids. This is an on going trend in this neighborhood. Tons of kids out, not so many parents. Let me just say this, Olivia was not the only three year old outside...... All the other kids seem to naturally 
gravitate to our house and I honestly think it is because Dave and I are outside and willing to play with the kids. We personally don't feel comfortable, nor do I want to miss out on all their fun and let them play outside by themselves. Every once in a while they can go out and play on the swing set in our backyard without one of us with them, but it is usually only when I am making dinner and can see them from the kitchen window and with it is with a stern message that they are to go NO WHERE else, not even our front yard without talking to me first. Am I just too overprotective or one of those so called "helicopter" parents? Of course, inside the house is another story.......
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13 comments:
Don't you love snow days? The boys went out today, too and had tons of fun!
I remember at 5 running around our neighborhood unsupervised. But I think times have changed. Parenting styles have changed. Hover all you want! You should play with your kids as much and for as long as you like- and they will let you!
I am totally missing out on snow days! How fun! So I take it you don't work on Mondays?
And no, you are not being overprotective in the least. I feel uncomfortable having my son out of sight outside, too. Inside he can have free reign, and as long as I hear noises every now and again, I'm cool with that.
We played outside too until B was too exhausted to walk in the snow. They were so tired that Maeve took a nap from 2:30 until 6:00pm! I know you know what a miracle that is. And you're not a helipcopter mom, I think the kids are too young to be playing outside alone at 3 years old, no matter how safe the neighborhood. I love that you're a mommy that plays with your kids.
WOw. Looks like you guys had alot of fun today. YEAY!
We did the same! I love playing in the snow! And I totally want to be the house that all the kids hang out at; too bad there aren't many kids soph's age in our neighborhood:(
I remember roaming all about when I was little - but then, we lived in the country. I think about it now, and realize there is no way I'm letting my kids roam like that, and we're even MORE in the country.
Times have changed. To many wackos out there.
I think it's way cool to be the house where all the kids hang out! That's what my dream was when we moved up here and I was retired. I wanted to be the house that all the kids came to on snow days! That way I know what MY kids are doing. However, since the closest friend is over 3 miles away, not like the kids are going to gravitate to our house! They couldn't "gravitate" to here anyway - it's all uphill.
I know what you mean about being the "neighborhood parent". It's annoying to feel like the only one who cares when you see so many kids allowed to roam around without their parents even knowing exactly where they are. Not only annoying, but also a little scary.
Our backyard is fenced in so I am a bit more comfortable letting the kids play out there without me. I stay in the areas of the house where I can keep an eye on them and I usually have a door or window open so that I can also hear what's going on. The front yard is a different story. The kids know that they shouldn't even open that front door if I'm not right there with them.
Yes, it is a different world than when we grew up. It may be hard to distinguish between careful and overprotective. Either way, keeping the kids safe is what’s important. Oh…and that they have fun too. Glad it was a fun day in the snow for all of you.
The laundry can wait-the snow can't! We haven't had any yet. My girls are going nuts!
You're not at all being overprotective. . . when I was a kid and was old enough to go ride my bike around the block, my mom would stand at the back kitchen window and wait to see me pass in between the houses behind ours. She knew how long it took me to circle the block, and it was the only way she felt comfortable letting me go out alone.
At least you had snow on your snow day. My kids' schools both canceled classes on Friday and it didn't snow AT ALL. They forecasted all this freezing rain, but we didn't even get that.
I'm so hateful towards snow right now! Of course, I live in South Dakota but still.....I hate snow!
I am a "helicopter" mom in the worse way! I cried when my daughter walked to the park (2 blocks from our house) with a neighborhood full of kids! She was 71/2 yrs old!
I sent you an email to join the new community!!! See you soon!
Awesome pics! Glad you guys had fun in in your 9 inches...that's a lot of snow! Wow.
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