We got 8 inches last night and I woke up like a kid on Christmas. Started planning sledding, hot chocolate, the whole thing. Meanwhile my 11yo is like "can I just stay inside and play Minecraft?" and my 9yo is mad because it means her soccer practice got cancelled. I'm the only one hyped. This is not how I thought parenting would feel.
8 inches is solid sledding weather though. Even if they're not hyped, getting them outside for an hour probably wouldn't kill them? Sometimes parents have to be the fun engine.
This is the trade-off nobody warns you about. You're excited about snow because you remember sledding being amazing. They're excited about Minecraft because that IS their fun. Different era honestly.
Honestly this is just parenting sometimes. You're the adult whose job is to know this is cool even when they don't yet. Do the sledding thing anyway. They'll remember it better than the Minecraft.
The 11yo Minecraft thing is brutal. I get it though - screens are way more instantly gratifying than cold. Maybe make it a deal: sledding for 2 hours, then hot chocolate inside while he plays?
Your 9yo being mad about soccer practice getting cancelled is actually funny because that means she loves it. You could leverage that - "we can do fun winter stuff AND you'll get back to soccer you love." Reframe it for them.
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Get your 11yo outside for like 30 mins. I guarantee once he's in the snow he cares more than if he stayed in. Minecraft will still be there later but snow days are limited.
Your excitement about snow days is actually sweet. Don't lose that. Nostalgia is real but you're also creating new memories for them even if they don't appreciate it yet.