Snow Dates

Teresa Barnes, MSW, LCSW
Clinical Therapist

This time comes every year.  The Christmas lights are packed away and the credit card bills have arrived.  There are at least 3 months of winter left and you and your children are beginning to get cabin fever.  Between the runny noses and lost mittens, Christmas vacation seems like a distant memory.  As you pack away the New Year’s resolutions with the Christmas lights, long and behold, there comes a snow day.  The weather man forecasts 8-12 inches.  As your children are cheering in the next room, you are probably thinking about the following: Who will you get to babysit at the last minute?  What about your son’s science project that is due today or your daughter’s piano lesson that is scheduled for this afternoon? 

Although it seems that the snow has interfered with your life’s plans, it may be God’s way of scheduling a snow date for you and your family.  This may be an excellent opportunity to have quality time with your children. 

If your family is snowed in, this is also a good time to have family meetings.  These are times when issues and conflicts that have been brewing all week can be discussed. This way, you can get to know what is on your kids’ minds.  They often tell you through their complaints.  Provide “stress free” zones in your house so if the discussions get too heated, a member of your family can retreat to his or her favorite space for awhile.  This will keep the tension low and will allow you to reconvene when it is appropriate. 

All the money you make will never take the place of you.  So when the family meetings are over, engage in an activity that interests your children.  Depending on their age, their interests may vary.  When you give them your undivided attention, you are telling them that you care enough about their world to be a part of it. 

Activities with your children do not have to cost a lot of money.  It is you that they want, so be creative.  It will be these times that they remember the most when they reflect on their relationship with you.  Make it count.