Home sweet home

This morning was probably the longest morning of my life. It started as usual at 5am, and I pulled down the driveway with all of the kids at 6:30. From the moment I woke up, I was waiting for the call from school that we were closing or having an early dismissal. This news is more than just "nice to know in advance." With three little ones and two separate drop-offs, a lot of coordination is required on any day, but especially in inclement weather. So, as the snow, rain and general frizzle descended, I braved the roads. When I arrived at my in-laws with Peter, I joked that it might very well be possible that Peter would be sleeping over if the weather got any worse. Then, I took the oldest two to Kindercare. Visibility was nil. The van fishtailed twice in the 20 minute ride. I was white-knuckled the entire time, and by the time we arrived at Kindercare, I realized that I had left my cell at home. I was certain that at some point, news would come my way of school closing. After all, who would go to school in this weather? Who would send their children to school in this weather?

From the Kindercare phone, I called Jason and asked him if anyone had called to cancel school. He said no. Then there was a long pause and a lot of mental cursing on my part. Jason told me to call in and take the kids home. If not under these circumstances, then when else would it be acceptable to do so? When I called the school secretary, she said it was good to hear a familiar voice. All the calls she had gotten this morning pretty much followed the same script, which was "Is there ACTUALLY school today?!" I explained to the secretary that I would be e-mailing my plans shortly, then left Owen and Nicholas to their breakfast while I schlepped back to get Peter and use the computer at the in-laws' house. By the time I got back to pick the two of them up, I decided that leaving Peter locked in his car seat asleep was far less dangerous than taking him out. (It's amazing we all got through childhood being left in cars by our parents. Yes, I broke the law, and I NEVER do that, but this morning was extreme.)
I arrived home with all of my precious cargo at 9am. Snow and rain have been falling ever since. The school did have an early dismissal that was announced at 10am. Clearly, the early dismissal is intended to benefit only the people who live within a one-block radius of school. Everyone else pretty much has to ice skate home.

I understand that nobody wants to add days on in June if they don't have to. But let's be safe! And, also, there are people out there who work all year long. Are we really going to be the bratty schoolmarms and whine into our ten-month calendars? I'd rather work a day in June than compromise my safety and the safety of my kids. Call me silly.

Also, I'd like to point out what the "early closing" schedule at school was like today:
Period 1: 8:00-8:49,
Period 2: 8:54-9:45.
Then, the announcement of the early closing.
Period 3: 9:49 - 10:08,
Period 4: 10:12 - 10:30,
Period 5: 10:34 - 10:52,
Period 6: 10:56 - 11:14,
Period 7: 11:18 - 11:36 and
Period 8: 11:40 - 12:00.

Pretty much, periods 3-8 are a royal waste of time. 18 minutes to do what? Incessantly request that students NOT stare out the window, watching the snow fall and wondering why we are here? Cover the first page of Act III, scene 2 of Macbeth? Have the students write a paragraph long essay? Play a game of 7-up? Write haikus about precipitation? Do an interpretive dance entitled "Longing for Springtime"?

We are anticipating a snowed-in day tomorrow, which means that I will be revising my plans. Being snowed in with my sons means having a LOT on the Clipboard of Fun. It's time to get out the crayon sharpener, break out the building blocks and turn off the tv. There might even be some baking involved. It's going to be a long one.

On Monday evening, when I was going on three hours trying to fall asleep, I Googled "songs that stick in your head." At the time, I could not get The Backyardigans' song "Racing Day" out of my brain. Apparently, songs that stick in your head are called "earworms." Nice. Parasites that crawl into my brain and don't go away. And supposedly, the best solution to the earworm problem is playing DIFFERENT music, preferably without lyrics, to try to coax the earworm out. Gross. I think the best avenue to earworm prevention is just not having the TV on at all. We'll see how long that resolve lasts.

And speaking of resolves, I have given up Facebook for Lent. Now, I am one of those "Sundays are okay in Lent" people, so I did sign in on my cell phone last Sunday. I miss giving my status updates and checking in with friends, but it has made a bit more room for prayer time. I figure, if I find those few minutes (or sometimes more!) to check Facebook each day, then I can find the time to pray, too. Or maybe I can just give my status updates directly to God: "Oona Abrams is snowed in with the kids and will definitely need Your help to get through this day with patience and kindness." It's a definite alternative.

PS: The memory card in our digital camera is broken. Place bets now on when the next post with a picture will be.