Bleak

I loathe this time of year.

It’s dark when we get up. It’s cold in the house in the morning even though the heat is on. When the alarm goes off I just want to burrow back into the warmth of the covers.

The morning school routine’s been going on for two months. It’s getting old.

We just have to make it to Christmas break.

I loathe this time of year.

The air outside is cold. It’s damp. The wind blows hard piercing through light jackets forcing us to pull winter coats from the closet. Soon we’ll add an extra 20 minutes to our morning routine. That’s how long it takes to outfit everyone in snow pants, boots and gloves to go outside. Whoever gets suited up first is a hot, sweaty mess by time everyone else is ready.

If we drive somewhere in the morning it takes another 10 minutes to scrape ice from the car windows. Even longer if the ice is buried under inches of snow.

I loathe this time of year.

It’s gray all day, and dark by the time we finish dinner. Even though the sun is set there is still homework to do, a kitchen to clean and baths to give. No one wants to do it. Early nights make everyone tired.

My husband is back in school and end of semester projects and tests demand a lot of his time. He balances that with The Family Business that picks up this time of year. He’s gone a lot.

Everyone is bringing home coughs and sniffles and fevers.

I loathe this time of year.

Christmas break will bring some relief. Then we’re in for three more months of bleakness, hurried mornings and long, dark evenings.

I miss lazy mornings, warm sunshine and digging my toes in sand at the beach.

I love that time of year.