Parenting in the middle of winter is parenting in advanced mode. You can’t just take them to the park and set them free while you read the new Colleen Hoover book on the bench. You can’t reward them with the ice cream man or with promised trips to the beach. You can’t send them to run around the neighborhood to tire themselves out while you catch up on your backlogged New Yorkers. Nope, the kids are in the house, and they want to be entertained. And all you want is to kick your snow boots off, pour yourself a glass of Pinot, and let the tough day roll off your back. 

But no, every time you sit down one of the little ones has a burning question about «Why some dogs are brown and some dogs are white.» And of course, you want to encourage their curiosity so they remain curious all their lives, but not today. Not right now.