Monday, January 5, 2004
Environment Canada Weather. Temperature minus 35, Windchill minus 45. Frostbite on exposed skin can occur in less than 10 minutes. Very cold arctic air combined with 20-30 kmh winds will give extreme windchill values of minus 38 to minus 45.(1)
8:00 The big red numbers on the clock radio were staring at me when I opened my eyes. Oh my! I overslept.(2) It's the kids' first day back to school after the Christmas holidays. Will they make it to school on time?(3) I got up and woke up Reggie right away. I told him, "magpunas ka na lang(4) and wear something really warm because it is very cold outside." I then woke up Ryan. I told them that they'll have to eat cereal for breakfast because I won't have time to cook soup and pancakes. I woke up Ryland but of course he just groaned. I went downstairs and started boiling water for Reggie's thermos. Then I warmed up the canned chicken noodle soup for his lunch. (He's been having soup for lunch at school ever since he got his orthodontic braces.)
8:06 I went upstairs to wake up Ryan again. He got up this time. I went to Ryland's bed and nudged him. "I'm still sleepy," he replied. I told him that he had to be up in five minutes. I went downstairs, boiled some more water, and made MILO for the kids. I also prepared Ryan's sandwich for lunch.(5)
8:11 Reggie and Ryan were both eating. I went upstairs for the nth(6) time to get Ryland. It took me a couple of minutes to get him up. It's a good thing that he didn't whine or cry. We went downstairs and he ate his cereal.
8:25 Reggie was ready to leave. I told him to put his hood on since it's really cold outside. He doesn't usually cover his head because he doesn't want to mess his moussed hair. Well, I wouldn't allow that in this frigid temperature. He went to pick up Saurus(7) next door before going to school.
8:30 Ryan and Ryland were both dressed. Ryan started putting on his jacket. I helped Ryland slipped into his ski pants. He slid his feet into his boots. He then threw his jacket on. I strictly told him, "Zip your jacket up to your neck when you leave school at lunch." I put his hood on. I wrapped and tied his scarf around his neck. "Ask the patrol(8) to help you with your hood and scarf before you leave school at lunch," I said.(9) He put on his mitts and I helped him with his backpack. Ryan was also ready and I said goodbye to them. So off they went to school.
Whew! What a relief! I was able to pull that off very calmly, without having anybody throw a tantrum.
Postcripts:
(1) January and February are the coldest months in Winnipeg, but normally the lowest temperature is minus 31. We have an unusually cold winter this year.
(2) I usually wake up at 7:00 a.m. I would take a shower before I wake the kids up and prepare breakfast.
(3) Reggie has to be in school by 8:40 am, the two young ones by 8:55 am.
(4) Reggie takes a shower every morning. I want him to take a shower at least an hour before he leaves home during the winter months. You wouldn't want to go outside with wet hair.
(5) Although the kids' schools are walking distances from our home, they want to stay for lunch. They want to chat with their friends at school during lunch.
(6) This was actually the third time that I went back upstairs.
(7) Reggie and cousin Thesaurus attend the same school.
(8) The elementary schools have patrols, usually 5th and 6th grader volunteers. They help the kindergarteners fall in line before and after school. They also wait with them for the school bus or for parents to pick them up. There are also patrols who help children cross the streets around the school area.
(9) Ryland sometimes comes home with a bare head and sometimes misplaces his scarf at school. His cheeks and ears would be very red then. He comes home with his cousins who prefer to have lunch at home.
