Beech Tree News Network

Recent snow days brought back memories of snow days past. Although I’ve lived in several different locations, my favorite snow day memories are of when my daughters were growing up. A common thread to my snow-day memories is that my house was cluttered with coats, mittens, toboggans, and boots/shoes, drying between outings.
When I was young, I remember playing in the snow with my siblings. We only had one snow sled, and there were several of us (six siblings, but not all old enough to participate); so, we took turns – often two on a downhill turn. It never seemed to take long as I watched the others slide down the hill and waited for my turn. Also, I don’t remember getting cold. I’m sure I went inside when I was cold or when my mom decided we had been out long enough.
Similarly, when my children were growing up, they also liked to play in the snow. Often, their dad would accompany them; he enjoyed watching them and said he liked being out in the cold air. When they were little, he even pulled them around on the sled (He definitely got plenty of exercise those days!). Our daughters threw snow balls, made snow angels, and sled downhill – on just about anything their dad provided. They seldom complained of the cold; but, I insisted they come in periodically to get warm and let their clothes dry. Now, they tell me that I bundled them up so tightly that it was hard to play.
When we moved to my current home, my girls’ ages were 12, 7 and 2. We had a wood-burning stove in the living room for years, and I remember the warmth of the wood heat. My late husband enjoyed keeping the fire burning. It was common for us to have other people at our house: another family or some of the girls’ friends. Snow days were also food-oriented: late breakfasts, pots of soup, and kid-friendly desserts, like Rice Krispies treats and fudge. The television and/or movies usually provided late afternoon and evening entertainment. As a mom, I remember the need for dry towels, cooking, and getting mittens to dry as fast as possible.
During the most recent snow days, my grandchildren played in the snow. Of course, my daughters searched for warm outerwear for their children. And, although my grandsons play with big-boy toys (like Razors and four-wheel vehicles), my granddaughters still like snow balls, snow angels, and sledding downhill. Me? I enjoy the pictures they send me and the stories they tell. Snow days – past and present – have much in common.