Despite the glorious weather that we continue to enjoy this fall, it's a (sad) fact of life that winter is coming. Last week, I went through my inventory of children's snow suit attire to see which items fit which kid, and to make a list of what I need to purchase before the first snowfall; and we're anticipating a trip to the mall shortly to outfit them all with winter boots. This past weekend, we headed to a second hand store and to Canadian Tire to buy skates and helmets, knowing that they all begin skating lessons this coming Sunday. The kids really can't understand what all of this 'equipment' and clothing are for, and think that we're outfitting them in clothing that is way too "hot and big."
So yesterday, I found pictures of snow on the internet and showed the kids various landscapes where the ground and trees were covered with the white stuff. They stared at each picture for minutes, unable to comprehend what they were looking at. Then I found a video of falling snow and Seth gasped, utterly riveted to the computer screen, when he saw the abundance of white flakes. He asked "what is that?" "That, my dear, is snow!" I told him. I explained (rather poorly, frankly - how does one explain snow??!) that they could imagine it was raining outside but that the rain would be soft and white, and that they could pick it up and and throw it, or play in it. Seth kept shaking his head - but really, how could he or Lizzie possibly understand what they have never seen? They have told us that their 'Teacher' in our agency's transition house told them that there is winter in Canada and that it is cold outside, but they still deny that it will ever get cold outside; it must be hard for a teacher who has never experienced snow herself, or a Canadian winter, to explain it in such a way as to help children envision piles and piles of snow covering every surface.
Though I certainly hope to defer the snow experience for as long as possible, there is a part of me that can hardly wait for the day when I wake the kids up and say, "hey, take a look outside...and welcome to your very own winter wonderland."
For Seth and Lizzie's enjoyment I hope the first snowfall is big, light, fluffy snowflakes and not wind-driven ice pellets!
ReplyDeleteThe first time it snowed after they came to Canada, our kids ran outside in their bare feet and got across the whole deck before they ran back, laughing, saying, "cold!" I will love to hear of Seth and Lizzie's reaction. There just is no way to really prepare them until it's here.
ReplyDeleteI'm in the same boat as you as hardly being able to wait to introduce the kids to snow. To see that wonder when they see it for the first time.... Of course, your kids will be used to the surroundings, and maybe want to go out.... Ours will be too scared to even touch the stuff :)
ReplyDeleteMebira is so excited to see snow, too. Almost every day she asks if it will snow today, and how many more sleeps until it will. She keeps claiming she doesn't like hot weather and wants cold weather, but she's only experienced about 3 degrees on our walk to school in the morning and has yelled and screamed that it is COLD! Girl, you haven't seen anything yet! :-)
ReplyDeleteI've been enjoying the same daydreams Ruth. We think we'll bring Joah & Tabor home in January or February (no longer the December homecoming we once thought, but isn't that adoption!) and are already having tons of fun thinking of the great ways we can make winter fun for them.
ReplyDeleteAh, to experience winter with the wonder that children do again, I can't wait!!
Happy shopping!
Donna
I remember Jermaine's first snowfall. He was almost 6. At home before school he ran around trying to catch the snowflakes in his mouth. At school when it snowed again later in the day his teacher said to the class - "Everybody outside, it's Jermaine's first day of snow" I was working at the school at that time and got to see his whole class enjoying the snow and jumping trying to catch snow flakes. It made everyone so much more excited about snow to experience it with him. A wonderful memory!
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