As we’re all aware El Nino (La Nina?) is upon us – not sure which it is, really; the last time this was even at all a factor in my life (and I mean, on the periphery) my younger brother was out at school in California and kept not getting back, being stuck at airports, and I think in one case, carried 2, 60 pound bags 2 miles home from the train because no one actually believed his flight landed. This time, though, as the snow keeps coming, they threaten to strip Al Gore of his prize based on global warming or the lack thereof, and even my kids groan and skip the snow-men, heading straight to hot chocolate…this time, El Nino is bringing ME down.
This is because all three of my kids have been holed up with me (also my looking-for-work husband but that’s another post altogether). They are bored; the twins have practically turned into hobbits or gnomes or something from spending so much time in the basement. School keeps being cancelled; I mean, it’s not as bad as DC, where my friend’s daughters have been out for like 3 weeks. My oldest and I are in the middle of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s “The Long Winter” and I GUESS it’s not that bad as we’re not grinding wheat to eat, nor is my husband following a clothesline to feed the cattle (my oldest laughingly told him to do the chores, feed the cows the other day, and he just walked by on his way to ignore the driveway shoveling).
I really, really, really have never wanted more to be on a beach, even for 2 days. One nice thing about having a real job was the corporate travel – the 2-day trip to California, made worth it by the two NIGHTS in the Four Seasons…these days, sweet heaven is a 15 minute escape by myself to Dunkin.
But trying to keep the kids going, I suggested a tea party for a couple of my oldest’s kindergarten buddies; they dropped by yesterday, and it was “great success”. Hot chocolate, chocolate fondue, sugar cookies (sidenote, my 4 year old twins were flying high on sugar rushes an hour later, weird) and they made necklaces with $6 worth of beads, then went downstairs and put on all the princess dresses. Perfect afternoon.
And one of her friend’s moms, who’d stayed for a cup of tea, told me “You are such a good mom, I think. You look like Martha Stewart”.
When’s the last time you got that positive reinforcement? I don’t feel like a good mom a lot. I yell (I believe I’ve mentioned). I work alot, don’t always drop what I’m doing to play, I’m constantly hollering about the cleaning. BUT, I did choose to spend this time with them and I am happy every day about something.And yesterday, it was hearing that from someone else.
I read this great article, today, that reinforced it. And I don’t know, these days, if this road is less traveled…but at least for me it’s making a difference.
