The Winter Time Mother's Plight

I don't know how people up North do all the snow and cold.  I don't mind it for some skiing, sledding and playing with the kids.  However, when it's too cold to even be outside, then yikes.   You get everyone bundled up to spend as much time as possible outside in hopes they can expend as much energy as possible.  You pull them up the hill every time, because they're too small to walk the whole way and they can hardly move period in all that garb.  You finally come in when the whining starts again and start unlayering only to find the youngest has wet his pants because to him it's too cold to take them off to pee.  In his mind, it's easier just to pee and we'll figure it out later.  You start the bath water and the 5th load of laundry is in the works.  They both whine and cry until they fall asleep.  Then you clean up all the mess from breakfast, the wet clothes and pick up the house that is a current disaster area.  Once they awaken, you finally venture out to WalMart, because you have finally run out of food.  The ice is a good 3" deep and slicked over and every mother out there is trying to push 1-2 carts at a time with multiple children.  The children are too little to help in this weather.  I know that feeling.  If you see this, help push a cart or at least stand with the cart so she can load the children.  We're honestly terrified that we won't make it out of there without losing a kid, breaking a leg or meltdowns from all the kids at once.  Yes, there are worst things happening, but in that moment when you see a woman, alone with 3 kids and 2 carts and they're just stuck and sliding all over the place, it's heartbreaking.  All us mothers want to do is just sit down and cry.  It's exhausting and overwhelming.  Needless to say, yesterday was rough!  I'm not the only one by any means.  This is the day of many.  You've worked all day and really feel like you've had no progress because within an hour of returning the kids have destroyed the house again and are already working on the 8th load of laundry!  Have mercy!  This is not to complain; it's too release the stress that I/we encounter with this type of weather.

So, today while I have the kids out to Grandma's, I'm in my office.  While I currently see this,

I'm envisioning this!

I've turned on my electric blanket as a seat warmer and I'm putting myself in another world today, because my brain needs it.  My heart needs it and my family sure as heck does.  Today, I'm pretending I'm with my friends in the Bahamas.  We're going fishing and snorkeling and then I'm going to nap in a hammock over the water.  I'm going to hear the waves and let them carry me into a peaceful surrendering to mother nature to heal and restore my thoughts.  

Here's to you and may you find your happiness and bliss today amongst any other forces out there.