Being trapped inside one’s home for three days is tantamount to insanity. At least that’s what it feels like from where I’m sitting. Trapped at home, thanks to a freak and out of the blue snow storm.
Monday we awoke to no school and snow. “Where did this come from?” I wondered. There was no warning – no preparation for this storm. The kids were, of course, thrilled. They put on their snow gear (that they never get to wear) and were in and out of the house all day. The snow kept coming. By the end of the day, there was probably 7 inches on the ground.
No problem. In Arkansas, snow days last a day, the sun comes out, and we all go on with our lives. So I’d helped my daughter move some of her stuff to her new room downstairs. As we prepare for a new addition to our family, our eldest now gets her own room AND her own bathroom. I’d vacuumed and scrubbed, done the laundry, cleaned the kitchen. I felt utterly productive.
Then the phone call came late on Monday. No school for Tuesday! Okay. So Tuesday is just a precaution. Tuesday we’ll be able to get out, run some errands, no biggie, right? Wrong. Tuesday dawned and all the roads were ice. People were slipping and sliding and there was no way my car was going to handle ice.
The kids didn’t mind. They continued to play with friends outside and just be kids. I did more laundry. I washed some more dishes. I scrubbed all of the cabinets clean. I was on a roll!
But by mid-afternoon I was tired. And I wanted to get out. I wanted to do something – anything. Really, I wanted to go to the gallery and work! We were able to get out in my parents all-wheel drive vehicle to make a short jaunt to my favorite restaurant for my birthday dinner. That was nice! But there were crazy people and wrecks everywhere.
And then last night, another phone call. No school Wednesday. Ugh. So by now I’ve done all of the laundry. This is a miracle in my house! And all the dishes. And the floors really need to be swept again. But I’m tired. I’m tired of doing NOTHING all day. One really needs to get out and have some variety during the day – at least this one needs that!
It’s odd, I think. We spend all this time going going going. Then when we have the chance to do nothing at home – it’s fine for a day, but then the novelty is over. I want to get back to routine. I want to work. I want to see my friends. I want to take my kids to their after-school activities. I want to go to the store!
I love my home. I love being here with my family. But I suppose too much of a good thing can kill it. Variety is the spice of life, right? The kids are done with the snow. They’re as bored as I am. Even making cookies doesn’t light anyone’s fire.
Well, hopefully tomorrow brings some routine. Until it snows again – like they say it will…tomorrow night.
