Cabin Fever? Unplug.

Ugh. Winter in Minnesota.
We warmed to balmy 10 degrees today after a knock-down drag-out bout with temperatures in the sub-zero range for a week. For those of us that live it, posting synonyms of what this kind of cold feels like is pointless, not to mention annoying.
It's cold.

Which means taking the 4- and 2-year old outside isn't an option for days on end. While tempted to watch movie after glorious kid's movie (Lorax x3; James and the Giant Peach x4), we finally just unplugged for the weekend. These are the days I am reminded of my own childhood, and forced to admit: indeed, I sound just like my parents. "Turn off the TV...Get outside...You need fresh air...You better wash the milkers and sweep up feed before breakfast..." Ok, not that last part. But my point remains.

Free, kid-created, entertainment will (hopefully) always prevail; sure, in a day and age when 5 year olds are more computer savvy than their parents and every elementary-aged has a cell phone/DS/Wii (in my generation, that would have translated to car phone/Gameboy/Nintendo, I suppose), people like to say things to the contrary.

But I'll play the nostalgia card: big cardboard box and blanket-and-chair forts will always prevail.
Unplug. Listen. And when the kids ask, "Will you play with me?" Say yes. They aren't going to ask for long.