The Southeast is still trying to dig out from the snow that paralyzed major cities and left travelers stranded from Georgia to North Carolina, and now the Northeast is preparing for another major winter storm that is set to clobber the region over the next 48 hours.
If you are a parent of a school-age child, you are likely bracing for more than just a few hours of shoveling. Instead, you will have to adjust your work schedule to accommodate one, two, or possibly, three snow days.
For many moms and dads, the thought of enduring a round of cabin fever with their offspring, while trying to make amends with their boss, is enough to put a deep freeze on any joy that may come from watching Mother Nature turn their yards into serene winter wonderlands.
Working parents trying to juggle rambunctious kids and an irate boss don’t see gentle snowfalls as the vehicle for stillness and serenity the same way naturalists do. Rather, they are forced to contemplate snowed-in babysitters; a mountain of wet snow pants, missing mittens and little boots; and delayed one-handed emails that are tapped out while making hot chocolate and directing warring kids to opposing time-out corners.
Remember when snow days used to be fun?
Does the joy of sledding down fresh powder, rolling out big balls to stack into snowmen and constructing intricate ice labyrinths with plastic shovels become a thing of the past the minute you enter parenthood?
Would it be so dreadful to put work on hold for a while to enjoy a spontaneous roll in the white stuff with your kids? Or does the thought of being vilified and labeled a “slacker” by co-workers snuff out any plans to make merry in an enchanted winter wonderfest?
What do you do when schools issue a snow day? Do you dread the cancellation or do you make the most of the day off?
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