Growing up in Wyoming often meant bitterly cold winters with mounds of snow each year. It was so common that snow days were often an anomaly — usually reserved for those days when the temperatures dipped well below 0 degrees F or the snow made it impossible for anyone to leave home. At the risk of saying “back in my day,” the truth is back then we didn’t have that many snow days.
But on the days that we did, few emotions can compare to a Wyoming kid’s excitement over a snow day. (Although, I think most kids would be just as thrilled!)
There was always this feeling that you were getting away with something. I would often look at the clock on snow days and think about what I would be doing at that time if I were in school. It was as if we were all breaking the rules without having to worry about the consequences.
And because a snow day often meant there was an abundance of snow, my sister and I made use of our free day from school. I don’t remember any particular snow day fun, but my parents’ yard was great for playing in the snow. There was always enough space to build snowmen or make snow angels. We never had snowball fights, although we could. But we often spent our afternoons building something out of snow.
The best part of the day came after our time outside, though. Freezing and caked in snow, my sister and I would run inside and fly out of our winter clothes. Our hats, snowpants, coats, boots, and gloves were strewn about, each with its own collection of snow clinging onto or inside it. No matter how much you tuck and fit your snow clothes to your body, snow always finds a way into your boots or gloves!
Then we would put on our cozy jammies, plop down in front of the TV, and watch daytime television shows we never saw. I’m sure we watched “Sesame Street,” and even as we got older, it was still enjoyable. Sometimes my mom would make cookies, too, and we had no problem indulging. There were few greater moments on a snow day than that. Our cheeks were flushed from the wintery cold, afternoon cookies were encouraged, and we watched daytime television in our pajamas while we warmed up. Even as a student who enjoyed school, I had to admit that was enjoyable.
As an adult, we don’t typically have snow days, and admittedly, I can’t recall a time when I asked for a day off just to be “off” — no obligations, trips, or appointments on my task list. To put it simply: I haven’t had a snow day in a long time.
As we celebrate the start of a new year, I’m hoping to embrace the fun and play of a snow day. I think we tend to forget that adults deserve to play, too. I truly believe this is why kids have more energy; they devote time to being curious, exploring, and creating, without a real task at hand. This year, I want to do more of that.
I hope you find opportunities to do the same. Do something indulgent — something that’s the equivalent of your daytime television in your jammies on a snow day — that’s just for you and not for anyone else. We all deserve it.
Happy new year, and may you enjoy your “snow days!”
-Geneva Perry
