January is here and winter is upon us. Or is it? This time last year, my husband and I were out making snowmen with our elder daughter. Right now I look out my windows that barely need the storm windows we put in several months ago.. and there's still vivid green lurking in the gardens.
Only a few days ago, I was obligated out of pure maternal principal, to force my daughter to wear her jacket in 60 degree weather as she played in the yard. Usually she is bundled in a heavy coat, hat, gloves, snow boots and scarf. Lately she has taken to removing her shoes to go down the slide, leaving them on the picnic table. Every five minutes I'm having to tell her to get her shoes or jacket back on before I make her come inside. But its WARM mom! Not quite THAT warm, except of course to an active child running around to break a sweat in 40 to 60 degree temperatures. Despite protests and whinings, the shoes and jacket stay on.
My daughter has begun to wonder if it will ever snow this year. I've told her it probably will soon, but with no snow in sight, how does a parent maintain their credibility? What is winter without snow? To a child in New England, its the end of the world. Not having a white Xmas was understandable and the children easily assuaged and diverted by their presents (Luckily Xmas seems to be the only holiday of the season that, due to the song, requires snow). But to not have any snow whatsoever and no sign of it in sight by now is highly unusual.
When the round of 20,000 questions arises with my daughter, she in fact knows more about the science of weather than I do. Its been over 10 years since I've been in school and the differences between stratus and cirrus clouds has long since faded into that irretrievable area of my brain. Perhaps hypnotism could extract it, but that's hardly necessary when I can just ask my 8 year old. That in mind, I found it useless to explain to her why. Perhaps its global warming, perhaps its that axis tilting thing that's supposed to change our seasons and climates somewhat, perhaps the snow gods have abandoned us, perhaps the heatmiser finally got some of that northern territory he's been wanting from his brother or perhaps its just a lousy winter.
Whatever the reason, it seems to be shaping up as the year of the non-winter. I am not looking forward to another 2 to 3 months of both the 8 year old and the 32 year old (husband, a bigger baby than the kids most times) whining and complaining and pouting over the lack of the white stuff which falls from the sky. I am the sort who does not like snow. Don't get me wrong, its beautiful to look at and make a snowman or two with. But I hate to drive or walk through it, I'm not particularly enamored of the fact that it HAS to be cold, or icy, or slushy.. Yet even I, the snow-hater of the household, am wondering where it is.
Just a week or two before the holidays, my husband was already plotting to acquire a snow-making machine like they use at the ski-slopes, for the sole purpose of putting snow on our lawn by the holiday season. I told him that much like Linus using the word if when speaking of the Great Pumpkin, he had just proven himself insincere and unworthy in the eyes of the snow gods. Even though he became flustered and penitent, he still thinks its not a bad idea. As I Don't praise the snow gods as reverently as he does, I can say that I agree. Forget a run on the sale of snowblowers (who needs em? Obviously not us.) we all need to get out and buy snow-makers. Be the only one on your block with a nice blanket of white over your lawn, watch your children become the most popular kids in the neighborhood.
My greatest worry is that Ill be slipping and sliding down an ice-slicked sidewalk (downhill no less) to bring my daughter to the bus stop in April. If were going to get snow, let us get it when were supposed to. Fall is not supposed to stretch into February. Were ready for it now, were waiting for it, hoping for it, praying for it, lets have it.