No More Snow Days, Please.
I recently read something from a child psychologist that really stuck with me: When we continue to do things for our children instead of letting them complete tasks on their own, we are stealing their chance to build self-confidence in order to feed our own. That idea has been on my mind all week, especially as I’ve been looking for ways to help my kids strengthen their sibling relationship. I’ve been making a conscious effort to have them take more responsibility—cleaning up after themselves, handling small tasks I know they’re capable of—rather than automatically stepping in to do it for them.
I’ll be honest, the cold and snow have made this week a challenge. We’ve exhausted our board game collection, and the kids are definitely feeling cooped up. There are only so many days you can run around the same hamster wheel before you start to feel trapped. It probably didn’t help that my husband was out of town for work, which meant I was the sole source of entertainment, structure, and problem-solving. To put it lightly, my creativity was running on fumes by midweek.
But then, something happened that made me pause. As I sat reviewing the latest storyboard for the upcoming Adventures of Ella Bella book (which should be ready in July—exciting!), my daughter came downstairs during quiet time. My son was in the middle of building a race track with his magnetic blocks—something he had chosen to do independently, as I had asked. What unfolded between them was a simple but meaningful exchange:
“Tucker, I love the track you made.”
“Oh, thanks, Ella. This is no ordinary bridge I’m making.”
“Can I see?”
“Ella! I’m pretty sure my idea is going to work!”
“Ohhhh, you think it will. Let’s try it.”
Now, do my kids always talk to each other like this? Absolutely not. Just a few days ago, I was trying to break up yet another wrestling match before it ended with a busted lip. Earlier this week, I had sat them both down for a conversation about how they are built-in best friends, reminding them that they should always be each other’s biggest fans. I wasn’t sure if they’d really heard me, but then I overheard this exchange—and it gave me hope.
Parenting is a long game. Some days feel like nothing is working like you’re just repeating yourself over and over with no visible change. But then, moments like this pop-up, proving that maybe—just maybe—some of it is sinking in.
If your week didn’t end with a picture-perfect sibling moment, don’t worry. Growth isn’t linear, and neither is parenting. All we can do is keep trying, modeling the behavior we hope to see in them, and remembering that small moments of progress do add up over time.
And if you’re looking for a small win this week, take heart—warmer weather is on the way. Here’s to getting outside, taking deep breaths, and soaking in some fresh air after a long stretch of cold days. Can we agree, no more snow days, please.
Until next time, remember to be kind to one another—and as always, happy reading.
Katie Marie
