Snow-mageddon 2011

Well, the reports were true -- though I doubted -- and Atlanta did get a huge snowfall.  Huge, meaning, about 3-4 inches.  But still, that's huge for us.  We were wary when we heard the reports last week.  People freaked out so much that all the local grocery stores were out of milk, bread and eggs even before the weekend was over.  Last night 2 counties closed all schools today before we had even seen the first flake fall. 

But then it started snowing, and boy did it snow.  The ground was covered completely (no green in sight) after only 15 minutes.  Unfortunately, it stopped snowing after a few hours and instead began with freezing rain.  Atlanta is now covered in snow with a sheet of ice on top.  There are tons of reports of people being stranded on the highways, unable to get their cars up the exit ramps to get home. 

The kids had some fun playing in it this afternoon, but it's actually so cold that the snow won't pack at all.  No snowmen or even good snowballs for them.  School has already been canceled again for tomorrow, citing the dangers of driving in the ice right now. 

Which leads me to the original reason I had for writing this post:  talking about how school changes kids. 

Facebook and Twitter are buzzing right now with moms boo-hooing the fact that their kids will be home from school tomorrow again.  I used to be so puzzled by this way of thinking.  Before my kids ever started school, I would hear moms complaining about their kids being home from school for some reason and think to myself that it was odd anyone would feel that way.  I was home with my kids 24/7 and yet I was glad to have the time with them.  I was sure that once they started school I would miss all that time with them. 

And then my kids started school.  Maddie is now in 2nd grade and Josie is in kindergarten.  And now I view the whole "day out of school" in a different way.  But it's not because I suddenly became cold-hearted or appreciated my kids any less. 

No, it's because school changed my kids.

My kids are no longer the same types of kids they used to be when they were home with me all day.  Being in school every day with a set schedule and specific subjects and activities has changed the way they spend their free play time.  They used to keep busy for hours just playing with their Polly Pockets, barely even noticing that it was time for lunch or dinner.  They were content to just look at their toys and pick out something to play. 

I'm not saying that they still don't have great imaginations and make use of their play time, but... it's different.  They get bored more easily.  They sometimes even rely on me to pick out something for them to do.  Then they'll do it for a while until they bore of it and I'll see them wandering around again proclaiming they're bored. 

And I'm starting to understand a little more why those parents felt the way they did.  It is actually hard keeping a child occupied for so many hours of the day when that child is so used to a specific routine and tasks and meeting specific goals and accomplishing certain assignments. 

In other words, it's another chance for me to say, "I get it" and eat my previous words.