Snowbird – noun
/ˈsnōˌbərd/
Informal. a person who vacations in or moves to a warmer climate during cold weather.
Do you love winter? Or are you a snowbird? I used to be a snowbird – I would jump at any chance to escape the cold and snow and fly to a warm, tropical destination. But with kids, I am embracing the enchantment that comes with a winter wonderland.
There is something magical about snow in the winter. Snowball fights, finding new hills to sled down, walking through a freshly powdered forest, and sipping hot chocolate by a hot fire while watching snowflakes fall. It’s the coziest time of year, made that much more captivating by watching it through a child’s eyes.
We had a light snowfall this week, and excitement consumed Jaiden from the moment he woke up. However, with the arctic wind that came with it, he had to wait to enjoy the winter wonderland until I put Nova down for her first nap.
Once she was asleep, I dressed him in fleece clothes, a waterproof suit to go over top, his winter jacket, a toque, boots, and his gloves (that came off within a minute of stepping outside as he likes to have his hands free). His face lit up like Christmas morning as he stomped through the snow, making paths across our yard. When a burst of wind came, his smile faded briefly as he shielded his face, and then continued to gallop around as if nothing happened.
We may have only stayed outside for twenty minutes before he asked to go in and warm up, but it was the perfect amount of time. Seeing his eyes light up, and hearing his giggles as he picked up snow to throw it warmed my heart. So, despite my urge to flee when cold weather descends, for now, I will soak up these years where I watch my kids play in the snow. Making snowmen, snowballs, and memories; and know that in the future when I’m on a tropical beach, I may wish to travel back in time to these moments when it was so cold I could see my breath, but their warm hugs and laughter made it all worth it.
