“You may have two cookies, “I told my 5 1/2 year-old Grand.
“Two? Can’t I have more? Four?” Micah asked. I bit my lip to not say, “Be happy for what you get.” Instead I said, “It bugs me when you ask for more. How about saying, ‘Thanks, Gran?’ Then after we both eat two, we might have another one.”
As I write this on Friday, the tree branches and shrubs are covered with snow. White flakes stick on the grass, but immediately melt on the roads and sidewalks. Like my Grand, I want more.
I want enough snow to completely blanket the ground. Enough for Micah to sled down hills on top of snow instead of sledding on snow mud as he did today. Enough to build a big five-foot tall snowman in the middle of his family’s snow covered yard, not scrape together all the snow in his yard to build a tiny two foot, skinny Frosty. The last time we had a really big snow Micah was less than two years old.
It’s time to do all we can to bring on more snow for all kids, big and small, and some my Facebook friends shared ideas. Clean your car really well, inside and out. Plan an out-of-town trip. Wish for an arctic blast and a moist low pressure system from the south at the same time.
I turned to my teacher friends for more creative ideas that involve pajamas, ice cubes, crayons, and dancing. One listed them and suggested this order:
Wear your pajamas inside out and backwards.
Get ice cubes out of the freezer and throw them off your front porch over your shoulder while singing “Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow.” Turn on front porch light so neighbors can see you.
Flush leftover ice cubes.
Put a white crayon in the freezer and a spoon under your pillow.
Most importantly, teachers should not take their plan books home. It will jinx the snow.
Another teacher explained her official snow dance. Sing “Let It Snow” and twirl three times while holding your hands high in the air and wriggling your fingers to mimic snow falling. This is most effective when teacher and students dance together at the end of a school day.
One teacher keeps a snow bird in her desk. When she is desperate for a snow day, she shakes the snow bird while her fellow teachers gather around to cheer her on. Her snow bird needs a vigorous shaking!
Another teacher said, “My kids ask God to bring us snow to play in and so Momma can stay home. Doesn’t God have a keen ear for children’s prayers?” And I’ve been reminded that Mother Nature needs to shake out her feather bed every winter and that’s what makes snow.
Whatever it takes, it’s time to sing and dance, throw and flush ice cubes, wear inside out pajamas, sleep on a spoon, freeze a white crayon, and pray. A skiff of snow is good, but I want more.
Susan Writes 
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