Dear Kids: Day 21 March Slice of Life Challenge

My Two Writing Teachers colleagues and I are hosting the 13th Annual March Slice of Life Story Challenge, in which hundreds of teachers participate in posting a story per day.

Dear Kids,

Today we went for a walk on the town paths to get some fresh air. It was a cold, brisk Sunday today. The sun was shining, the sky was blue, and the snow was starting to melt. The “trailhead” to the paths is in a different neighborhood than where we live, so we parked the car, and started out on the neighborhood trails. We walked a mile or so from the car, and then decided to head toward the school playground.

Your father was convinced we could cut through the woods to get to the playground faster. All of us, even six year old Jackson, were uncertain about that, but we followed him nevertheless. Not more than 20 yards into the prickers, mud, and fallen trees it became pretty apparent that going that was wasn’t a good idea. So we ducked out of the trees and into someone’s backyard, and headed back to our car via the street.

We were in a different part of the neighborhood that your father and I didn’t know, but your father said, “It’s just up here, come on,” so we all followed him some more.

It was pretty chilly today, only about 30F degrees and I didn’t feel like taking my hands out of my pockets to double check your father’s advice on my phone like I usually do, so I just followed along.

We walked and walked and walked and walked. Our car was getting further and further and further and further away.

By the time we realized it, we were actually right across the road from our own house. Normally I would have been so annoyed, but today, you know what? I just let it go.

I was pretty proud of myself for that.

Love,

Your Mom

Dear Kids: Day 20 March Slice of Life Story Challenge

My Two Writing Teachers colleagues and I are hosting the 13th Annual March Slice of Life Story Challenge, in which hundreds of teachers participate in posting a story per day.

Dear Kids,

Remember earlier when you were playing outside in the front yard, and our neighbor, Bobby (name changed), came over to play like he always does?

I was inside doing work while you were playing, and when I looked out the window I saw the two of you, Bobby, and Bobby’s mom in the driveway. Jackson and Bobby were riding their bikes around in a circle, and Lily and Bobby’s mom were talking. I had no idea how long they had been there.

Do you remember how I opened the door and called the to the two of you to come in for dinner? And how I hesitated when you asked if you could first show Bobby the little houses you had built out of rocks in the backyard?

I followed the three of you to the backyard, and Bobby’s mom awkwardly lingered in the driveway. I only let Bobby look at the stone houses for two seconds before I asked you to come in for dinner. Remember? And when the three of you complained I pushed harder. “Lily, Jackson, you need come in the house now!”

I didn’t know how to say it in the moment, but I was terrified when I looked out the window and saw our neighbors visiting. What if Bobby or his mom had the virus? What if they had been traveling recently? What if Bobby’s mom was one of those people that doesn’t believe the virus is real? What if one of you picked up the virus at school last week and we don’t know yet? What if one of them gets sick because of us? What if they go to visit a grandparent? Honestly, I was also thinking What the hell were they thinking? I was angry that they came over to visit. All these thoughts and more flashed through my mind in a split second. I panicked. I needed you to get away from them. Immediately.

There is so much scary stuff happening, so quickly, and sometimes I don’t know how to tell you what you need to know without scaring you too much. How much information is enough? How much fear is enough?

I really just don’t know. But I do know that I love you both to the end of the universe and back, and I’ll do anything to keep you safe.

Love,

Your Mom

Dear Kids: Day 19 March Slice of Life Story Challenge

Dear Kids,

I have to say, I really enjoy having you home each day during the coronavirus school closure. Today, you both helped out, were kind to each other, did you school work, and were just generally adorable.

Each night at dinner, we often ask each other ,“What was your favorite part of the day?” I have to say, my favorite part of the day today was when I took the two of you to the river for a little fresh air. You scampered down the river bank and searched for sea glass and other treasures. Apparently, the spring while the snow is still melting is a great time to find sea glass at Old Mill Park. You each found 3-4 pieces of all different colors, plus a few pieces of pottery. Treasures! Who knew?

We could only stay a little while, but you were both so happy together. It made me forget, just for a minute, what is going on in the world, and just focus on the two of you and your happiness.

Thanks kids!

Your Mom

Dear Kids: Day 18 March Slice of Life Story Challenge

My Two Writing Teachers colleagues and I are hosting the 13th Annual March Slice of Life Story Challenge, in which hundreds of teachers participate in posting a story per day.

Dear Kids,

It’s really starting to sink in that we are probably living through what will be your generation’s 9/11.

Today, at the gas station, the lady in the car in front of mine was filling up four giant plastic tanks of gas. I overheard her chatting with the man across the pump for her. “You think there’s gonna be a gasoline shortage?” he joked.

“Probably at this rate. You never know what’s gonna happen.” she responded in all seriousness.

That’s crazy I thought to myself. Or is it…

Everybody has been worrying about and talking about what’s going to happen over the next few weeks, but I read a post from a professor that school closures, social distancing, and shelter-in-place could potentially last for a full year. Not a school year. A calendar year. Yikes.

After we stopped for gas, Lily and I drove up to the mountain. Officially the mountain is closed, about a month earlier than usual. The chairlifts aren’t running, the lodges are locked up, no more snow-making or grooming.

Today was a gorgeous, sunny, thirty-something-degree spring day, so I was excited for Lily to try the touring gear we got her a few months ago. With touring gear, we don’t need chairlifts! We have A/T gear! (Special bindings that make it so that you can walk uphill using your skis like nordic skis, and then click into your bindings at the top so that you can ski down like alpine skis).

I was so proud of how strong Lily was! She had no trouble at all adjusting to the bindings, and even when we got to the tippy-top, where there were two ways to choose from, she chose the super-steep route instead of the easier route.

At the top, we ate cookies with our friends who were already there (keeping a safe distance from each other). We played music, had a “trick skiing” contest, and were thrilled to see two groomers sweep through, on their way to pick up the furniture from the Ski Patrol Hut.

After we finished our cookies, we all skied down on freshly groomed corduroy. A true spring ski day!

At the bottom, Lily asked to climb the mountain again!

We need to keep hiking and skiing as much as possible — otherwise, I’ll get sucked into the news and I’ll turn into that lady at the gas station, panic-buying gasoline for no apparent reason. Let’s not let that happen.

Love,

Your Mom

Dear Kids: Day 17 March Slice of Life Story Challenge

My Two Writing Teachers colleagues and I are hosting the 13th Annual March Slice of Life Story Challenge, in which hundreds of teachers participate in posting a story per day.

Dear Kids,

Today was our mountain’s closing day. I am so thankful that we were able to get one last day of skiing today, but it wasn’t easy, and it was pretty sad for all of us.

First of all, the two of you were not getting along today. In the car, on the way to the mountain, I overheard this conversation between the two of you in the back seat:

“Who is your favorite person,” Lily asked Jackson.

“You are!” said Jackson. Aww, that’s sweet I thought to myself.

“Well, you’re like, number 10 or 11, or maybe more like 20 on my list,” Lily said to Jackson.

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Sheesh! Siblings can be so cruel. But we made it to the ski area in relative peace and skied a few runs before coming back to the car to eat our peanut-butter-and-jellies.

It was after lunch when the two of you really started bickering. Along with lots of little jabs and disagreements, we managed to do two more runs after lunch. But on the second chairlift ride, Jackson sat next to me and cried. He was exhausted and wanted to go home.

When we got to the top of the chairlift, Jackson and I got off the lift and slid to where Lily was waiting, ready to go ski. “Look at the snow coming down!” she exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement and joy. My heart was heavy as I told her that this would need to be our last run.

“Noooo!” she roared. Then she turned to her brother. “I HATE YOU!” she screamed. “This is our last chance to ski for the whole entire YEAR!” And Jackson cried and cried.

Finally, when Lily accepted that the decision had been made, and Jackson was ready to go, we managed to ski our very last run and have a relatively fun time. The snow was soft and coming down in big snow-globe flakes. As far as last runs for the season go, it was pretty great. I tried to convince Jackson to go up one last time, but after he fell a third time, I stopped trying to convince him. I could see that he was toast. Despite the snow that was coming down, and even though it was our very last chance to ski for the season, I knew we had to call it a day.

At the bottom of the hill, when it was time to get in the car, Lily’s protested. “Just one more run! It’s our last chance!” she begged desperately. And even though my own thoughts and feelings matched hers, we dragged ourselves to the car, loaded up our stuff, and reluctantly, eventually, started to drive home.

Skiing and being outdoors is what our family revolves around. Skiing is filled with rituals and traditions. Saturday ski club training, events, barbequing with friends, even all the getting up early and packing our stuff. It’s what we do for six months out of the year. The ski season is supposed to end with pond skimming, at least one day skiing in a tee-shirt, and a big party in Lot 1—not with my kids fighting in the back seat of the car.

I worry that today was a preview of what’s to come for the next few weeks as we settle into a life with no school, no work, and no skiing. Will we spend our days bickering and fighting? Or will we find ways to take care of each other and have fun?

I have said this before in at least one other letter, but I guess only time will tell.

Love,

Your Mom

Dear Kids: Day 16 March Slice of Life Story Challenge

My Two Writing Teachers colleagues and I are hosting the 13th Annual March Slice of Life Story Challenge, in which hundreds of teachers participate in posting a story per day.

Dear Kids,

Today was our first day of school closure. Well, actually school was still open, but I kept you both home. School closes officially on Wednesday.

It was a challenging decision not to send you to school today. On the one hand, I don’t want to seem alarmist, like I’m overreacting. On the other hand, I will do anything — anything — to protect the two of you. Nothing is more important than that. Plus, your poor teachers have enough to deal with right now.

Instead of staying home all day, I took you skiing. Our mountain will most likely close any day now, but for today, the lifts were still spinning. Today was a beautiful, blue-bird, freezing cold winter day. It felt so good to do something normal, and something that we love so much. Everything from packing up the ski equipment in the car, to carrying our skis through the frozen parking lot to the yurt felt like such a normal, routine thing to do. It was good for our mental health.

Plus, the two of you got to ride the lift together without a grown-up for the first time today! That was my favorite moment of the day, sitting in the chair right behind the two of you. I could vaguely hear Lily talking and talking the entire way up, chattering away, though I couldn’t make out the words. Jackson was leaning in and looking up at his big sister. Lily handed him a few Skittles from the supply I gave her in her pocket. The sun was shining. We had a great day.

At this very moment, I’m letting you stay up a little later than usual to finish a movie together, all snuggled up on the couch.

I guess this is how will manage. Making the best out of each day, one day at a time.

I love you both so much.

Love,

Your Mom

Dear Kids: Day 15 Slice of Life Story Challenge

My Two Writing Teachers colleagues and I are hosting the 13th Annual March Slice of Life Story Challenge, in which hundreds of teachers participate in posting a story per day.

Dear Kids,

Today I couldn’t help myself from checking the news constantly. The not-knowing got the best of me. When will schools be canceled? Do I need to cancel my work trip? How many coronavirus cases are there today? Should we even go to our friends’ dinner party tonight?

I spent the day doing laundry, cleaning the house, making a huge batch of chili to put in the freezer, and (I’m embarrassed to admit) constantly checking my work email and the news headlines.

By the end of the day, our governor had announced that all Vermont schools will close for students at the end of the day on Tuesday. I mentally made up my mind about my work trip. There are currently eight confirmed cases in Vermont (interestingly, half of them are people who fled from a larger city to a second home in Vermont). We’re not going to dinner tonight. I’m even keeping the two of you home from school tomorrow even though I could send you.

Am I overreacting? Maybe? But maybe I haven’t done enough. I don’t know. We won’t know - not for a while anyway.

Love,

Your Mom

Dear Kids: Day 14 Slice of Life Story Challenge

My Two Writing Teachers colleagues and I are hosting the 13th Annual March Slice of Life Story Challenge, in which hundreds of teachers participate in posting a story per day.

Dear Kids,

Yesterday, the news was filled with big events being cancelled, ski areas closing early for the season, and schools closing in other states. It felt like yesterday was a bit of a turning point, like people all around us were starting to realize that the novel coronavirus is actually real.

At the end of the day, you had Myles as your babysitter, and your father and I skinned up Bolton and did some night skiing with Audrey and Brian. It was weird not to hug anybody to say hi or take sips of each others’ drinks. We laughed about it a lot, but I think we all had the same weird feeling that it was also kind of serious.

After we went skiing, we went out to dinner at a fancy restaurant called The Hen of the Wood with Audrey and Brian. All night long we joked about it being our “last supper,” thinking that very soon all the restaurants might close because of coronavirus. We were surprised to see so many other people eating out when we first arrived, but we weren’t as surprised when the restaurant (usually packed with reservations made weeks in advance) was nearly empty by 9:00. Every time the waitress passed a glass or a dish I couldn’t help watching to see where she put her fingers and wondering if she had washed her hands. (Dinner was absolutely delicious. I had mushroom toast, and scallops).

This is the first time in our lifetime that anything like this has ever taken place, so nobody knows what to expect. For now, we’re trying our best to live life to the fullest and stay as calm as we can (and wash our hands constantly).

I love you both so much,

Your Mom

Dear Kids: Day 13 March Slice of Life Story Challenge

My Two Writing Teachers colleagues and I are hosting the 13th Annual March Slice of Life Story Challenge, in which hundreds of teachers participate in posting a story per day.

Dear Kids,

Today is Friday, the 13th. Lots of people say that Friday the 13th brings bad luck. I kinda sorta believe it.

When I was a kid, your Grammy Pammy had all kinds of little superstitions. I don’ t really know how strongly she believed any of them, but she would remind us of them constantly.

  1. Bad things happen in threes.

  2. Kids are sensitive to full moons, and low-pressure weather systems, and act like little monsters when either or both are in effect (Personally, I think this one actually makes a lot of sense, scientifically speaking).

  3. Never walk under a ladder, or someone will break their neck.

  4. Knock on wood for good luck. And while you’re at it cross your fingers and your toes.

  5. Black cats are very bad luck. Not just if they cross your path — even just spotting a black cat can cause bad luck, according to your grandmother.

  6. If you break a mirror you’ll have bad luck for seven years.

  7. NEVER open an umbrella indoors - or else someone will die. With this one, Grammy is actually pretty serious.

When I was a kid, those vending machines at the grocery store used to sell rabbit-foot keychains for a quarter or two. Every time we went to the grocery store my brother (your uncle) and my sister (your aunt) would beg for candy and treats and your Grammy (my mom) would always say no—unless it was a rabbit-foot that we wanted. In that case, she was happy to dole out quarters for each of us.

Looking back, the rabbit-feet were pretty horrifying. They were actual rabbit feet. They were dyed all different colors - pink, green, blue. I guess this was to make them less like an actual body part of dead animal and more like a toy. But at the time, your uncle, aunt, and I had no idea - we just didn’t think about it.

I had a white rabbit-foot for the longest time. I remember having it attached to my backpack for at least one whole school year. I remember holding it my hand, and petting its soft silky fur. I never thought twice about whether it was a real foot or not. It was simply a rabbit-foot. For good luck. (Ew.)

So today, on Friday the 13th, even if I see a rabbit-foot vending machine, I don’t think I’ll be digging out my quarters. I’d rather carry around my four-leaf clover and my lucky coins for the day thank you very much.

Good luck kids, I love you.

Love,

Your Mom

Dear Kids: Day 12 March Slice of Life Story Challenge

My Two Writing Teachers colleagues and I are hosting the 13th Annual March Slice of Life Story Challenge, in which hundreds of teachers participate in posting a story per day.

Dear Kids,

Today I did what I’ll call “doomsday” grocery shopping. I planned out what seven days of meals based on non-perishables and frozen food might look like and then I went online and ordered it all from Hannafords, times two, to equal two weeks.

It turns out I’m not the only one. Hannafords is so busy that the groceries won’t be ready for pick up until tomorrow. Plus, they are only allowing people to buy five of any given item at a time!

It all started because I went online to order toilet paper. First I went to Amazon, like usual, but literally every package of T.P. was sold out. This can’t be good. I thought. So I went to the Walmart website. Same. This really can’t be good.

So it was the thought of going two weeks without toilet paper - not food - that prompted me to sit down and make a grocery list.

I already stocked up on things like Advil, Tylenol, Pepto, and Gatorade (because NPR told me to) so if any of us gets sick or somehow severely dehydrated, we’ve already got that stuff in supply. I even beat the Purell rush several weeks ago, so we already have tiny bottles of Purell to carry around with us.

So don’t worry kids, we’re prepared for the worst. This mother will NOT let her family go without toilet paper.

Love,

Your Mom

Dear Kids: Day 11 March Slice of Life Story Challenge

My Two Writing Teachers colleagues and I are hosting the 13th Annual March Slice of Life Story Challenge, in which hundreds of teachers participate in posting a story per day.

Dear Kids,

When I came home today, the two of you were having a dance party in the kitchen. Jackson was doing his “moves,” which is mostly swinging his hips around, and then finding props to shake to the beat. Today, as he danced, he casually opened the fridge, shaking his booty all the while, and grabbed a bottle of hot sauce and pretended to drink it to the beat of Lady Gaga’s Poker Face. “That’s good hot sauce,” he exclaimed as he placed it back in the door, shut the fridge, and kept on dancing as if it were no big deal. Smooth.

As Jackson did his hot sauce move, Lily was swinging her sweatshirt around in the air, like a lasso. “Awww yeah!” she shouted. “Shake your booty, buddy!”

The two of you danced and danced, giggling and shouting ideas to each other the entire time. I hope you’ll always have dance parties, even when you’re all grown up.

Love you so much,

Your Mom

Dear Kids: Day 10 March Slice of Life Story Challenge

My Two Writing Teachers colleagues and I are hosting the 13th Annual March Slice of Life Story Challenge, in which hundreds of teachers participate in posting a story per day.

Dear Kids,

After you the two of you were dropped off for school today, I packed up all my stuff to go skiing. With my two bad wrists, getting my ski gear into the car is a process. I have to pack up my backpack, and each zipper and snap hurts a lot. Carrying everything up the basement steps to the garage is a pain. And putting my skis on the ski rack is a challenge. But I did it. I really wanted to get one last run in before the rain came today.

Next, I drove all the way to Bolton. It was a long drive. And by the time I got there it was starting to rain just a little.

I got out of the car, pulled my skis off the rack, and opened the trunk. I picked up one ski boot.

Something was wrong, though. The little strap that is attached to the tongue of the boot was missing. That’s weird I thought. Maybe it got ripped off somehow? I looked a little closer, completely dumbfounded.

It took me way too long to realize what should have been obvious. I had your dad’s boots instead of mine. Ack!

There was nothing to do but to get back in the car and drive all the way back home. In the rain.

I’m not sure what the significance is of this story, except that this is the type of thing that happens to me all the time, and that I hope the two of you are less spacey than I am when you grow up.

Love,

Your Mom

P.S.

Later, your dad and I hiked Dewey in Underhill together. When I was putting my backpack in the car, I opened it up to get my puffy jacket and guess what? The jacket was ON FIRE inside the backpack! My headlamp had turned on inside the pack and burned a hole in my pack and my jacket. So… make sure you lock your headlamps before you put them away!

Dear Kids: Day 9 March Slice of Life Story Challenge

My Two Writing Teachers colleagues and I are hosting the 13th Annual March Slice of Life Story Challenge, in which hundreds of teachers participate in posting a story per day.

Dear Kids,

Did you know that I keep a calendar of my ski days? Today I marked Day 63 for this season, can you believe it? That might be the most days I’ve skied in one season since I was a ski instructor many years ago.

Some people only count a day if they take at least three runs. Personally, I count it as a day if I hiked up the mountain just to get one run, or if I rode the lift for three runs. I think hiking the mountain to do any amount of skiing should count as a day.

A lot of my 63 days so far this year are days that I skinned the mountain early in the morning or after work just to ski one run. I do this because I like being outside in winter. I love being in the snow and fresh air, and it’s always beautiful. Even when it’s cold and gray and windy. Even at night when it’s dark. Even when it’s raining a little, or below zero. I’d rather be skinning up the mountain than at the gym any day. Without a doubt.

A lot of my 63 days so far this year are also days spent skiing with either or both of you. Those are my favorite days, of course. You have each grown so much this year as skiers! Lily, you are absolutely shredding now, taking air off of jumps and small drop-offs, and you are so fast in the woods now that it scares me. Jackson, over the past two weeks it is as if a switch has flipped and you went overnight from pizza turns to full-on carving your turns and flying off every jump in sight.

If I’m being honest, a handful of my 63 days so far this year weren’t the best. There were days when I was recovering from the two wrist surgeries I had this winter. I went skiing, even when I still had fresh stitches from surgery because I couldn’t stand staying at home on a beautiful day. You don’t need hands to ski - but skiing when you’re injured is different than regular skiing. And there were a few times I probably should have been allowing my wrists to heal instead of climbing and skiing.

For many people, the ski season is almost over. Lily just has a few more weeks of Freeski Team left, and Jackson’s group had their last session this week. The days are getting longer and the temperature is warming up a bit, which means the snow can’t last forever. But your dad and I are not most people. We will keep on climbing up the mountain as long as there’s snow, and usually, that’s into mid-May around here. I’m hoping we’ll even get the two of you to climb a trail or two once the lifts have stopped spinning.

Love,

Your Mom

Dear Kids: Day 8 March Slice of Life Challenge

My Two Writing Teachers colleagues and I are hosting the 13th Annual March Slice of Life Story Challenge, in which hundreds of teachers participate in posting a story per day.

Dear Kids,

When I was a kid, the TV was always on in the house where I grew up, Grandma and Grandpa’s house. There would be soccer games playing nonstop on the television in the living room, which us kids (me, and your aunt and uncle) were strictly not allowed to touch. Oprah or Donahue would always be on the tiny TV in the kitchen, and the news would be blaring from the television downstairs in the den.

I hated it. It was always so noisy. It was stressful. Television shows aren’t only noisy - they are filled with violence, competition, people yelling at each other, negative messages about body image and relationships — and commercials. So many commercials.

One night, when I was about 14 or 15 years old, I sat at the desk in the downstairs den to try to do my homework while the rest of the family watched a movie - I think the movie was Beethoven’s 2nd. (Sidenote: both of you would love the Beethoven movies, but that’s another story). The only computer in our house was at that desk and I needed to type a report, so there was nowhere else for me to go to do my work. The noise of the movie seemed to get louder and louder, the harder I tried to concentrate. I clicked away at the keyboard, but I couldn’t focus. I asked my parents to turn down the movie volume, and they did, but it didn’t make any difference for me. Finally, I started to cry out of frustration. Then, because I was a teenager and not a very good communicator, I wound up in a gigantic argument with my dad, your Grandpa. Instead of turning off the movie, he banished me from the computer. The more I argued, the more impatient with me he became. Eventually, I stomped up the stairs to my bedroom and handwrote my assignment instead of typing it.

To this day I can’t work with a TV or radio going. I hate the sound of a TV on in another room, and I can’t stand it when television is just on in the background with nobody watching it. For a long, long time I didn’t even own a television at all. In fact, your dad and I didn’t buy a television until we moved here, to our house in Vermont, when Lily was almost four years old. As you know, our TV is in the basement, and we don’t watch it much. We consider watching a show or a movie a special treat — like candy, or juice boxes.

Anyway, I wonder how the two of you will feel about screen time and television by the time you are young adults. Will you crave it and binge on it the first chance you get, like kids who aren’t allowed to have any sugar ever? Will you each run out and buy the biggest, loudest television screen you can the first chance you get? Or will it be unimportant to you since it wasn’t a huge part of your childhood?

I guess only time will tell.

Love,

Your Mom

Dear Kids: Day 7 March Slice of Life Story Challenge

My Two Writing Teachers colleagues and I are hosting the 13th Annual March Slice of Life Story Challenge, in which hundreds of teachers participate in posting a story per day.

Dear Kids,

I want you to know that your father and I are trying really, really hard to model good cell phone behavior for you. We try not to have our phones out when we’re home. We try not to look at our phones every time a message comes through. We try not to have them out at dinner.

It’s a challenge! And now that Lily is getting her own phone, we really have to buckle down. We have to follow all the same rules we set up for Lily, and someday when Jackson is old enough, we’ll need to make sure we follow all the same rules for him too.

Tonight, I’m going to stop charging my phone on my bedside table and instead put it right next to Lily’s in the kitchen. That means I won’t be able to look at it before bed, or hear any of the late texts coming through from my friends. It means I won’t be able to look at the news or the weather first thing in the morning, or scroll through Instagram and Twitter, which has become a habit that I am not so happy about.

I know that this will be a change for the better for me. I want you to know that I’m walking the walk. So, when I tell you to put your phone away - I will too.

Love,

Your Mom

Dear Kids: Day 6 March Slice of Life Story Challenge

My Two Writing Teachers colleagues and I are hosting the 13th Annual March Slice of Life Story Challenge, in which hundreds of teachers participate in posting a story per day.

Dear Kids,

Did you know that one of my favorite things about Indie is that he moves from bed to bed in the night, taking turns sleeping next to each of you? When I peek in your bedrooms at night, he’s always in one of your rooms, curled up in a little fur-ball, sometimes at the foot of your bed, sometimes right next to you. Sometimes he even puts his little fuzzy head right on your pillows, or snuggles up with a stuffed animal. It’s adorable and it makes my heart melt that he loves you both so much and that you love him.

Lately, when I watch Indie with the two of you, I notice signs of how he’s getting old. Twelve is pretty old for a dog, I think. He sleeps a lot more than he used to, and his teeth chatter sometimes. He’s got terrible breath, and he frequently whines without any reason. It’s not all bad - he’s also a lot calmer than he used to be; he doesn’t bark at passing cars anymore (he can’t hear them) and he seems to get along just fine with other dogs for the first time in his life.

I worry about how much the two of you love him—when he eventually dies how will you react? He’s healthy enough for now for an old dog, but he couldn’t possibly have more than a few more good years in him. That’s just the way life goes.

Last night, Lily called Indie up on to the couch. She patted the spot right next to her like we always do. He lost his hearing over the summer, so now he reads our body language. He usually hops right up on to the couch and snuggles right next to us. But this time when he tried to jump, he didn’t quite make it, and he slipped back down to the floor. I wanted to cry.

But here’s the thing. How many good years does anybody have? Should you protect yourself from loving anybody or anything, knowing that it can’t last forever? Of course not. We’ll just keep loving Indie for just as long as he lives, and beyond. And he’ll keep loving us.

Love,

Your Mom

Dear Kids: Day 5 Slice of Life Story Challenge

My Two Writing Teachers colleagues and I are hosting the 13th Annual March Slice of Life Story Challenge, in which hundreds of teachers participate in posting a story per day.

Dear Kids,

I am so proud of the way the two of you get along. Did you know that you are 100 times nicer to each other than your uncle and I ever were? We were terrible to each other!

Once, when your uncle was about eight years old, and I was nine, we were set loose to ski together on our own. Back then our parents did that all the time - they just dropped us off in the parking lot at Middlebury Snow Bowl, and picked us up at the end of the day. Everybody’s parents did that. Can you imagine?

Anyway, while we were skiing that day, my mittens got really, really wet. My hands were freezing - so cold that they were burning. You know that feeling? Well, when we went inside the lodge to use the bathroom, my brother, your uncle, left his mittens on the table where I was sitting to wait for him while he used the bathroom. So you know what I did? I switched our mittens, leaving him with the wet ones, and me with his nice dry ones. Since our mittens were the exact same black Kombis, I figured he’d never know.

Well, of course he figured it out. As soon as he put his hands back in his own mittens he yelped, “Hey! Give me back my mittens!” and he pounced on me, right there in the ski lodge. And with no grown-ups around to tell us to stop, we literally pounded on each other. Finally, I gave up. I returned his mittens and spend the rest of the day sulking—and freezing.

I’m telling you this because I know you would never fight with each other that way. I also know that if one of you had soaking wet mittens, the other would offer to take turns with the dry ones.

Right? Wouldn’t that be so nice? To be the kind of siblings who helped each other out?

I love you both so much.

Love,

Your Mom

Dear Kids: Day 4 Slice of Life Story Challenge

My Two Writing Teachers colleagues and I are hosting the 13th Annual March Slice of Life Story Challenge, in which hundreds of teachers participate in posting a story per day.

Dear Kids,

I love that you both love Legos. However, the Lego situation in our household has spiraled out of control. They are literally everywhere, in every room. On the floors, on shelves, tables, countertops, in beds, on the edge of the bathtub, on the kitchen counter. Everywhere. There are Lego creations that you built years ago that you refuse to take apart. There are little collections of certain special pieces that you refuse to mix together. There are Legos that Jackson won’t touch because “they’re Lily’s,” and Legos Lily won’t touch because “those are Jackson’s.” It’s too much. It’s out of control.

Look, I love Legos too, but we have got to do something. I have stepped on one too many sharp little pieces, and I’ve put away Legos for you both one too many times. Yesterday, I saw Indie sniff a tiny brown Lego piece, then lick it, and then eat it. He did it so quickly there was nothing I could do to stop him. I’m sure he thought it was a crumb. He’s an old doggo and he gets confused easily.

So for little old Indie’s health and protection, and the safety of my super sensitive feet, I have an announcement for the two of you.

From this point forward, all Lego creations and collections of special pieces are allowed to exist for one to two months and then they are taken apart added to the big buckets. Additionally, all Lego creations contained to the shelves in the living room. Period.

All questions and concerns can be submitted to your father.

Your Mom

P.S.

Just kidding. Your father and I are a team. I would never do that to him. Or would I…?

Dear Kids: Day 3 Slice of Life Story Challenge

My Two Writing Teachers colleagues and I are hosting the 13th Annual March Slice of Life Story Challenge, in which hundreds of teachers participate in posting a story per day.

Dear Kids,

I need you to listen closely to this. I know I say this all the time, but I really really mean it this time.

Wash your hands.

With soap.

And hot water.

Sing the ABC’s while you do it.

Seriously. I mean it. Wash your damn hands. If not for your selves, do it for me. I don’t want to get sick. I can’t afford to get sick. You can’t afford for me to get sick.

And please PLEASE stop touching your faces! At the very least, just don’t put your fingers in your mouth. And PLEASE just don’t lick ANYTHING. I know you think it’s funny. It’s not. It’s disgusting, it’s gross, and now it’s dangerous. So just stop. Stop licking things, and stop putting your grubby fingers anywhere near your face.

Honestly, I can’t believe I even have to tell you these things. But apparently I do. Repeatedly.

I love you both so much.

Love,

Your Mom

Dear Kids: Day 2 March Slice of Life Story Challenge

My Two Writing Teachers colleagues and I are hosting the 13th Annual March Slice of Life Story Challenge, in which hundreds of teachers participate in posting a story per day.

Dear Kids,

I would like you to know that this morning, while you played Zelda and watched Captain Underpants together, I completed the following tasks by 8:30 am:

  • two loads of laundry

  • made breakfast (including fancy french press coffee!)

  • responded to approximately 1,000 emails

  • unloaded and loaded the dishwasher

  • made a grocery shopping list

  • watered the plants

  • fed Indie

  • texted back and forth with friends about plans for skiing

  • wrote this blog post

Don’t worry, though. I’m about to click “Publish” and then it will be your turn. We’ve got plenty for you to do too. Heh heh heh.

That is all. I just wanted you to know your mother has been very busy this morning, taking care of business.

Love,

Your Mom