It has been an unusually warm winter this year in North Dakota.  In a typical winter, by the beginning of the year the sidewalks would be lined with snow banks towering higher than our kneecaps while below freezing temperatures would cause breath to burn in our lungs.  But this year, it’s almost as if winter never arrived. It rained on Christmas and the shift from our usual ski masks and snow shovels to rainboots and umbrellas was unsettling. On the college campus where I work, students traded their snow boots for flip flops in January when the temperatures creeped into the 50s and the sun felt shockingly warm.  My own kids rode their bikes without coats in February, an activity usually saved for the days leading up to summer break.  As much as I enjoyed being able to walk outside without the bitter cold freezing my skin and appreciated being able to drive to work without fear of getting stuck in a snow drift, something about it all felt off.  I missed winter. 

Then one evening in February, after a record-setting 60 degree day, I was getting ready for bed when my phone rang.  I was surprised to see it was a call from my job.  I hesitantly answered and listened in shock as an automated message explained that the campus would be closed the following day due to snow.  “What!?” I exclaimed, quickly trying to pull up my phone’s weather app.  Maybe this was a poorly timed April Fools joke, it was 60 degrees outside!  What did they mean snow day?  When the forecast finally loaded on my screen, I saw we were in fact in a blizzard warning. An almost 80 degree temperature drop was expected overnight, followed by snow and wind.  My kid’s school called shortly after, confirming my family’s snow day.  Right in the middle of our mild winter was a good old-fashioned North Dakota blizzard! 

As the weather forecast slowly sank in, I became increasingly excited for our snow day.  I decided to sleep in and let my kids wake up on their own time.  I knew my son was going to run up the stairs and accuse me of oversleeping.  I couldn’t wait to see his face when I told him we had a snow day.  When the morning arrived, I was not disappointed.  He briefly panicked, “Mom! You forgot to wake me up!” as I smiled and told him the news, laughing as he cheered and dashed for the window.  My daughter woke up a half hour later and groggily climbed the stairs to see her brother and I watching cartoons.  She paused and asked, “Are we sick?” before hearing the news and running to the window to confirm the snow day.  Both kids cuddled on the couch with me as we lazily continued the cartoons.  The midweek moment of rest felt unexpectedly rejuvenating. 

Later in the morning, my phone rang again.  It was our neighbor across the street wanting to share in the snow day excitement.  She explained how she had been thinking of the kids and had packed a little snow day care package for them.  My kids put on their boots, hats, and coats, giggling at the thought of walking through the drifts of snow and white out conditions to collect their care package. I could barely see her house across the street as I watched my kids make their trek.  They burst back through the door minutes later with rosy cheeks and a bag filled with fun.  Pulling out several DVDs to choose from, a coloring book with crayons, and some candy, I couldn’t stop smiling at the kindness of our neighbor whose thoughtfulness had added exponential joy to our snow day. 

As the day continued, I caught up on a few chores before enjoying extra kid cuddles while eating popcorn and watching one of the neighbor’s movies.  We spent the remainder of the day playing games and reading books.  My heart was so happy as I watched my kids engage with their imaginations, creating adventures inside while winter blustered outside our house.  It felt like life had slowed down to give me a chance to rest and recconnect.

As the day ended, I listened to the sounds of the snow plows clearing the streets and I felt sad.  The day had brought unexpected rejuvenating joy and I wasn’t ready to return to the humdrum and chaos of daily routines.  Then I paused to think about the aspects of the snow day that had brought such joy: spontaneity, rest, time together as a family, and the kindness of a neighbor.  And I smiled, realizing these are things that can show up in everyday life in small ways.  This realization is an added bonus accompanying my memory of the joy of an unexpected snow day.

Jessica is a wife, mom, social worker, and writer.  She is co-author of the blog The Unexpected Ever Afters.

photo credit: personal photo