official snow days

Schools were closed yesterday and today, and we've played in the snow (see the photos here), baked, painted, and made play-doh. I honestly don't know how my home-schooling friends do it. A day at work is so much less tiring, and in many ways less challenging, than a day devoted exclusively to keeping the children occupied. Juggling my teaching and writing and parenting and housekeeping often involves dropping balls and being frustrated that none of it seems quite up to par. But somehow scrambling after the balls has become a way of life, and I don't think I would be much better at my job if I didn't have children (I might write more, but I am not certain it would be better), and I wouldn't be better as a parent if I didn't teach and write (though the house might well be tidier).

But enough about me. The kids are the interesting bit here, and Iain says something every day that is worth repeating, or so it seems to me. Today we were discussing pizza (as you do), and thinking about making our own. The dough-making would be great (Iain loves cooking), and we could decide what to put on the pizza: he doesn't like cheese on pizza. Go figure. So I was listing all the different sorts of things we might put on the pizza besides cheese. After I had mentioned a dozen or so, Iain chimed in.

'Chocolate pizza!' he exclaimed with delight.

I laughed, and somehow all the work the day involved suddenly seemed worth it.