Snow day

These snow days are wearing us out.

On Wednesday, L. was tired after a long day of playing in the snow. I was tired of being cooped up inside. Neal had shoveled for four hours. As dusk fell, he was about to collect our son at a neighbor's house.

"You have to stay with Mama," Neal said to L. As Neal walked down the street, she started to erupt.

The full wrath of a five-year-old can be terrifying. My right side is weak, and I was worried that her kicks would knock me over. I told her she needed a time-out, and I left the room.

But her yelling and kicking escalated into a feverish pitch.

"Don't leave me! Don't leave me!" she screamed.

I sat down on the couch again, next to my flailing daughter, trying to catch my breath.

I won't leave you, I told her. I won't leave you.