The call came around 9:00pm last night that Willow's school district was calling a snow day in advance of the storm that was coming our way, so I knew I would be working from home today. It works well - Willow is old enough to keep herself occupied with toys, books, or tv - only pesters me for a snack or lunch. The snow was beautiful - I think maybe 6 - 8" fell - enough for it to cover the top of my boots. She wanted to go outside, but I told her she had to wait until 3:30pm when I could turn my computer off and be done for the day.
Three-thirty came, and she was all bundled up - was wearing long johns and two sweaters without me even having to tell her to. So, we head outside, and she played in the snow while I shovelled the front walkway, the driveway, the sidewalk going around the house, and the back steps - that's the good wife part of the story. Andrew was really happy when he came home to find out that he didn't have to do that. And going by how sore my arms and lower back are now, it was probably some good exercise.
But the bad mother part. Well. Willow hasn't seen much snow in her six years. We have had some dry winters, and it seems that whenever we do get snow, it is gone that same day... so she had never experienced something that was commonplace between kids when I was young. How many of you have had someone come up behind you and wash your face with snow? I can't think it is just a Canadian thing! Turns out she didn't see the amusement in it, and she started crying and calling me mean. Ooh boy, I felt about two inches tall.
I distracted her with the icicles that were hanging from our and our neighbour's front overhangs. I knocked some long ones down with the broom handle and we dueled until our icicles were broken to pieces.
One of these days I will learn to be a good mother.
7 comments:
Funny - Jaime did the same thing to William..... I'll take a que from you and Jim and NOT do it Dharma!
How would you have known until it was done? Wouldn't you rather that came from you and not some little turd kid down the block?
I used to stick my brother head first into drifts… that was fun…
Making one mistake in the name of trying to have fun does NOT make you a bad mother, 'k?
Nope not just a Canadian thing--that's whitewashing. It *was* illegal to do on the playground though....
You are a great mother!
I think it must have just frightened her! And sounds like you made up for it with the icicle fight!
Um..er..forgot what we called it, but yeah we did it too! Don't be too hard on yourself. You played and had fun despite it and that's what counts :)
Someone did that to me this winter and I am 35 years old and I was NOT HAPPY. It hurts. Actually I used to dread it as a child too.
What you should have done afterwards was let HER do it to YOU - that would have cheered her up!
Lighten up on yourself, babe - we all do stupid stuff and scar our kids. It's how therapists stay in business.
Awwww.... Poor Jo. Willow will inevitably see the fun in it.
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