Let it snow, let it snow, let it BE DONE ALREADY.

I live in the northeastern United States.  I like it here.  I like New England winters, for the most part.  I like bundling up in sweaters and big jackets.  Shoveling snow is a pain in the back, but my neighborhood looks beautiful with a fresh coat of fallen snow.  Winters here can be bitter and difficult, but I generally enjoy them.

Except when the blizzards and nor’easters hit the area one after another, downing power lines and trees, and making life a pain in the butt no matter how dedicated you are to shoveling snow.

Heavy snows and vicious winds battered our area last week, downing power lines and trees.  We only lost power for a few hours, but I heard stories of people in the surrounding areas without power for days.  Cars were swerving around broken tree limbs in the street.  Folks were digging themselves out of heavy snowfall for hours.  We could have had it a lot worse, but it was still pretty bad.

As of this writing, we’re forecast to have all that happen again today.  Heavy snows.  Power outages.  Damaged trees and blocked roads.  Back-breaking snow shoveling to follow, so we can dig ourselves out once the roads are safe.  I like New England.  I like living in the northeast.  But this is one of those times of the year that really tests my tolerance.

The last time we faced repeated snowstorms of this caliber was way back in 2015, only a month or so after my son was born.  The “snowpocalypse,” as we called it.  Nothing quite like being new homeowners and new parents within a month of each other, and then having multiple blizzards dump a massive amount of snow all around you.  Like then, as now, we could have had it a lot worse.  But it still sucked.

I think the worst part of this latest round of snowfall has been the school cancellations.  My boy is three years old now, and goes to preschool.  The time that he’s gone is precious time to myself.  When we’re snowed in, I’m stuck with my three year old.  All day.  Can’t leave the house.  And if the power goes out, so goes the option of distracting him with his favorite movies.  I love spending time with my son, but stuck in the house all day can become a real test of endurance for the both of us.

I like New England winters, for the most part.  This is the part I don’t like.