I feel like my children haven't played outside since last fall! We live in Connecticut and keep getting slammed with snow! I don't know how much more I can take--and I'm from Idaho!! Is anyone else literally climbing the walls, desperate for sunlight?? My skin is turning to paste, all I do is eat out of boredom and frustration, and my kids are starting to eat eachother alive. We're spending more money on snow removal than groceries! (and liquor store purchases--Mama needs her glass of wine at night!)
Just had to vent!
sorry should have clarified that my kids are very small- ages 3.5 and 1 and our driveway is very steep and icy, certainly wouldn't take them outside...can't even take them in the backyard because the snow is piled up about 6 feet and is very frozen, so it's too icy for them to even run around and "play" in it. Trust me, I would know how to take my children outside to play in the snow- I'm from the northwest! Oh and should add my husband is gone M-F weekly, which is why we PAY someone to do it, for the woman who suggested me and my husband shovel.
I'm with you. We are near Kansas City and are bracing for a *blizzard*--should hit tonight/tomorrow. My kids are 5, 2, and 6 mo...tough to get out. Maybe dig out some old toys...or make up new games? If you can get out, do you have a "Play, Bounce, Jump" or "Monkey Bizness" type establishment you can take them to? How about a play date or switch off with another mom? Good Luck!!
We've had a one snow storm a week here since Christmas, and I hate it. I so long to take my 2 yr old out to indoor playgrounds or just the mall, but I cant because the snow is too thick and the streets are too icy to drive through. My husband barely got out of the driveway this morning with 4 wheel drive. Its crazy. Im just going insane here stuck all day with my very bored 2 year old little man. Im just waiting for the streets to de-ice and try to get asap.Until then, we're just watching movies and losing sanity. lol.
I was once suggested to let my kids have a dry washcloth fight. Children love to throw things around....so if they are throwing around clean washcloths on each other...helps to relieve that pent up feeling. or sometimes I let our youngest children (ages 7 and 2...both boys) bring their trikes in the house to ride around. first we make sure the snow is off them. make blanket forts in the house...in the living room, or under the kitchen table. you could also have picnics in the kitchen....lay a clean blanket on the floor and have a snack with your children....or bring in snow and let them play in it in the bathtub... I seen a friend did that. her children loved it! They didn't sit in it...but still kept their clothes on...just played with it, like sand. you know? =)
I'm just like you. Two small kids (10 months & 2 years) trapped indoors. You and I can drink our wine together, there is really nothing more to do !! LOL.
And screw those people that suggested you shovel your own driveway, the horror, I would never.
Chin up! The days are getting longer and that's a sure sign of spring.
BTW, may I add that the "dangerously cold temperature" school delays are driving me slowly but surely INSANE!!!???
Girl, I hear you! I'm from CT too and I'm going NUTS! We all have cabin fever. Seriously, we have so much snow I can't even bring the kids out to play, they would be buried! We just went to the Danbury Mall last week to let our 2.5 year old finally run around, he had soooooooooo much energy!
And we are getting more tonight and Wednesday BOOOOOOOOOOO!
If I weren't preggo, I'd be throwing back a few cocktails myself.
Hang in there :-)
Hi lynsey-
Can you get your hands on some large appliance boxes?? They can be cut to be puppet theatre (and all kinds of puppet making)...can be a bank...a toll booth...(you get the idea). The 3.5 yo would have a field day...the younger would have fun...or be a good audience...
Smaller boxes (say from liquor store...lol) would make good inside 'train' cars...or inside sleds that can be pushed and pulled around...
I feel your pain...
Hang tough!
Michele/cat
Ah...I know what you mean! Long Island hasn't exactly been a picnic either this winter. I feel like I almost reached my breaking point last weekend, when I drove around and around a 4-block area looking for a place to park to run an errand, and eventually gave up because there were no spaces dug out enough to park in. AAAARRRRGGGHHH!!! I don't have little kids anymore, just 1 high schooler still at home, which makes things a bit easier, but I have just about had it with the shoveling and the snow gear drip-drying everywhere. Hang in there...and enjoy your wine :)
scrapbooking, warm baths twice a day, redecorate a room, finger paint, make pottery treasures with feet and hands.... I don't know. I can't imagin. We just had a quick rain here in AZ. But it is always nice here. I am sorry.
Tehehe, Hi Linsey, I see you are in CT, the HOT SPOT of snow this year! I'm in upstate NY, they keep swinging too far south and east, but they say this one is gonna get us all!
Only 2 more months to go, and won't spring in the Northeast be THAT much more beautiful this year?
We'll get through it together.
My kids are older so the words SNOW DAY make it all better.
:)
(Make sure you're taking some vit C and D supplements to help with the lack of sunshine)
Oh yeah. We here in Minnesota like to brag about our ability to deal with winter, but this season has been horrendous, and we're not even to Feb yet! Can't count on nice spring weather here until May. My daughter is older so we can go to a skating rink or sledding hill, or other outdoor things. Is there a park anywhere near where you could pull them around in a sled? I know that doesn't last long when they're so young. When we want to stay inside but be active, we have an indoor park with a climbing structure and gym, we swim at the YMCA, sometimes a mall just to walk around, Children's Museum. We used to go to IKEA just so she could play in the kids' area (too big for that now). Are there any family/child education organizaions that offer play sessions? Libraries?
A glass of wine or beer at night is a fairly regular thing here, too!
why not take the kids outside and help you shovel the snow instead of PAYING someone to do it? it will get the kids outside some and get exercise. i wouldnt keep em out for hours on end but like 45 mins they can play and get worn out while you and dad shovel
I grew up in the northeast so I know what you mean! How old are your kids? Are sledding, snow ball fights, snow man building, or sleigh rides possible?
I hear you, sister! I think the only place worse than your Connecticut is my central Massachusetts! Even our dogs are fed up with this. Normally, I enjoy winter (though I wouldn't mind enjoying it for a shorter period each year ;) ). This year, however, is CRAZY. The other day I told my husband I'm glad we get along. I can't imagine being so cooped up in the house with someone I didn't like! And, yes, there's only so many places to put the snow. So far, our plow guy had to ask a friend to come over with his backhoe twice to move the snow piles. He couldn't move any more with the plow!
This will make summer so very, very sweet (if it ever comes). And I DON'T want to hear a WORD about any water shortage!!
Hang in there....
Lynsey,
I have no fix it for you, no words of hope, just a big fat I'M WITH YOU!!!
I'm from Southern California (which has been in the 60-70s all month). I wasn't supposed to live here this long (almost 6 years). I work outside the house most days but with all these snow days I not only have to stay home, inside all day, I still have to work from home with the kids going nuts because they haven't been able to go outside (besides getting into/out of the car) for like 4 months! Even the days where hubby can stay home, he lays around because, hey, he doesn't have to work today. AGH!!!!
Well at least the Groundhog says Spring soon.
Ahh the screams of someone getting hurt from climbing a wall...
Oh, I feel for you - I remember the winter seasons when my kids were that young NOT FUN!! Is there somewhere you can go? Maybe just go walk around the mall - let the kids run! and then just by a cookie or smoothie or something small and go home. You can keep your 3.5 yr old entertained at the mall by playing "I spy" and let your 1 yr old bring a toy to pull or play with. Any local kid museums? (We have one close by that is free, just pay for parking) Indoor pool would be great! Our local university has open swim 2xs per week for $3 per person. Check your local library for story time. Maybe a local school that has open gym time or something? Chuck E Cheese? Something - it always made me feel better to get out and do something on those long winter days (or actually short days, but they sure feel long!).
Don't know if it's clear enough to get out, but when it's cold in Dallas (and it actually does get into the 20-30's - SURPRISE!), I'll feed my son a "real" lunch and then we'll go to a play place at McDonalds or Chic-fil-A. That way, we may snack a bit but we're not eating tons of fast food. And it gets us out of the house and the little guy running some energy off.
Seriously ya can't shovel anymore because the snow blower won't hurl the snow over the 5' and 6' piles. Ugh. Can't go out for a nice walk because of all the snow and ice. Can't play out in the yard because the snow is 4'. This winter just stinks with no end in sight.
Why don't you try to give yourself an outing to the library or some kid friendly place just to get out of the house. Do fun stuff like have a picnic on the floor for lunch or throw on the radio for a dance party. You can do what the nursery school do and pick a theme for the week and plan activities using that theme.
Well, I am SO blessed not to have the snow that you have because I am pretty sure I would shrivel up and die. A little snow is one thing, but I don't know how my Minnesota and Wisconsin relatives do it. My friend in New York has barely been able to get out to work recently.
Man.
I am spoiled.
I live in California, but don't let anyone tell you it doesn't get cold and snowy and frozen here. I don't live in the "sunshine and orange grove" part of California.
I am a summer lover! I am solar powered! I love the heat!
Winter is really tough on me.
What I did when my kids were little was to build a fire and get it to about 90 degrees in the house. We ran around in shorts or our bathing suits and put music on and PRETENDED it was summer outside. I let the kids play in the bath tub with their bathing suits and goggles on.
We had picnics on the floor, we built forts and slept in our sleeping bags with our battery operated lanterns and flashlights. If it wasn't summer outside....we made our own.
It is some of our favorite memories.
We made home made hamburgers, hot dogs or fried chicken and potato salad and we just imagined the days away.
Be creative. That's all the advice I have for you.
Your kids will love it!
I just put up a "bounce house" inflatable in my dining room (pushed the table into the corner and zip-tied the light out of the way!) so YES, I know the desperation!
I feel your pain!!! We've been swamped in Jersey too...I'm considering getting one of those sun lamps for people with SAD (seasonal affective disorder)...or at least the alarm clock that simulates a sunrise...Seriously...they say it can improve your mood!!! Good luck:)
So I am in MA and we are also being hit with the 1-2 punch today and tomorrow. I had to go to get my Daughters x-rays done today for an apt. she is supposed to have with an Orthopedist tomorrow (took forever to get the apt. but I am sure we will have to cancel). Despite the snow piling up, I actually let them play a little extra time in the waiting room this morning just for a change of scenery before we went home! We have done all the arts and crafts, leggo's, painting, playdough and baking we can handle this past month! The kids are watching way too much TV these days! One thing that is cheep and easy that we do at home is make "sensory buckets" (I am a part time pediatric Occupational Therapist, so I try to be creative, but even I am having trouble!) I take large tupperware bins and fill them with dry rice, beans or fun shaped pasta and throw in toys to hide or spoons, funnels, measuring cups etc. to scoop and play with. It is just something different to try. Also try finger painting on cookie trays with pudding or whipped cream... then the kids can lick it off their fingers. When worst comes to worst, put the kids in front of the TV and just realize the rest of us moms are doing the same thing!!
I hear ya. We're in Fairfield, CT and the snow in our front yard is 8' high! My kids are 5, 4 & 2 and school is rarely in session. You can't even play in this snow because it's so impossible to walk through. We've tried making forts and playing outside, but my 2-year old gets cold so fast. Last year we used to fill our sand and water table and bring it inside to play in. This year it's buried under 3' of snow.
So far we've had PJ days, een dinner in a fort under the dining room table, picnics in front of the TV, couchbed movie days, built Lincoln Log/Thomas train/Lego village days, afternoon baths, and pretty much anything else you can imagine. We've also gotten out to the mall play spaces and libraries when the roads are drivable, but we're running out of things to do!
Just wanted you to know that you're not the only one.
PS - I'm from Indiana so I'm used to these snow storms too. Oh, and I open a beer almost every day at 5pm to get me through dinner with 3 cooped up children.
