Snow
Today’s snow was about perfect as far as I’m concerned. It came on a weekend, so wasn’t the huge logistical nightmare that midweek snowstorms are around here. And I got to play with the boys instead of going into work. (Since we live close to the metro, it almost never snows enough that I can’t make it into work. And since T is home, even the schools shutting down doesn’t give me a good excuse to stay home and play in the snow.) We got about 8 inches, enough to make snowmen, have a snowball fight, and take the boys sledding at the Masonic memorial, but not so much that there was danger of either of the boys getting stuck in a drift.
Playing with the boys was especially sweet because I wasn’t sure I was ever going to get to do it, at least with D. He has mild sensory issues, and this is the first time that he’s been willing to play in the snow. In the past, he’s totally refused to walk in the snow, even in boots. He liked the idea of snowball fights — but only the throwing part, not the getting hit part. He’s outgrown a lot of his issues — he used to be unwilling to walk on grass — and so I was hopeful that he’d eventually be willing to play in the snow, but I wasn’t sure it would happen. But today, he had a great time, and was even willing to lay down and make snow angels.
I feel a little sheepish admitting how bugged I was by D’s dislike of snow and sand. Obviously, in the scheme of things, it’s not a big deal. But playing in the snow and digging on the beach were parts of my mental image of childhood and parenting.
February 12th, 2006 at 9:14 pm
I am so jealous of your snow, it hurts. I’m glad you got to enjoy it.
Don’t apologize for feeling the way you did about D’s sensory issues. What you describe makes perfect sense to me. And it’s wonderful that he’s been able to work his way through them. I’m tempted to guess that D must have very sensitive and thoughtful parents.
February 12th, 2006 at 10:20 pm
Yeah, the snow was great–although the dh was out of town overnight, and it took him forever to get back. But since I didn’t have to worry about going anywhere (and for once, we actually shopped in advance of the snow), it was fun just to bundle the kids up and throw snowballs at them.
February 12th, 2006 at 10:49 pm
I’m feeling like a terrible mother because I didn’t get my kid out in the snow today. Granted, she is battling a cold, and she refuses to wear her snowpants, so it feels like neglectful parenting either way.
February 14th, 2006 at 11:30 am
Ian, my kid with apraxia, was just diagnosed with mild sensory issues, too. They say that those two things go together. But he’s mostly hypo, rather than hyper, so he actually did fine in the snow. He can’t feel anything. His biggest problems are with his ears and inner ear. He has trouble going into crowded rooms with lots of backround noise.
It’s good to hear that D. is outgrowing his issues. I hope we get there, too.