This is Utah home of the "Best Snow on Earth" and until recently we had only a few dustings to our credit this year. One thing I love about homeschooling is that when it does snow we can take advantage of it for our break-or the day if like last year you only get one day that merits snowpants and sledding.
It had snowed. Mockingbird gets grumpy if she is hungry/sleepy or it's morning. All three of these hit hard one day and combined with a few clumsy bumps led to her wandering around telling herself how horrible she was. I tried to patiently keep things moving, but nothing was working.
Eventually we all made it outside for our break. But it went on and on, to the point where I realized she was asking for some kind of validation that she is OK even if it was a terrible start to the day. She kept moaning until I had to take her by the shoulders for the kind of scolding we all need every once in awhile: "I know you are having a bad day, but I love you and if Anything happened to you I'd be Devastated. You are a wonderful, smart, talented person, just having a bad day. I know it's hard, but you have extactly 3 minutes to feel bad for yourself--then you are done and we all move on." and I turned and left her standing there.
Less than 3 minutes later, Mockingbird wandered around a bit then shouted out, "Look at these snowflakes! They're the prettiest I've ever seen!" And they were. gorgeous. Big, sparkely, and perfectly shaped. By the time someone ran up to get a cloth and magnifying glasses the majority were just clumps of frozen again. But for just a few minutes they were perfect.
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