I remember growing up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania during the unbearable cold winters. Granted, I did flock down to Florida with all of the rest of the snowbirds at an early age, but my memory of the beautiful white snow remains. My mother would dress me in layers of layers of clothes (no lightweight Gortex back then). The whole process seemed to take 30 minutes. When it was over I was sweating and my Mom was swearing. During my mad dash to the winter wonderland I would run outside, throw my body into the snow just to realize that I forgot my mittens even though my Mom was yelling, "Don't forget your mittens!," on my way out the door.
As a 5 year old, I was an immortal, who cares that I forgot my mittens, they were only things that would protect my phalanges from eminent frostbite. Nothing would interrupt my competition snow angel making or my mastering the skill of the perfect snowman. The snow angels were a piece of cake, I could do them all day. Now, try to make a snow man sans mittens. I bet you couldn't get 5 minutes in. Hands buried deep in the snow unprotected, feels like you just stuck them in the fiery pits of hell. The burning starts and does not cease. It's truly painful, and as a 5 year old little girl, I am sure I made it very dramatic. I would run inside screaming and crying(full on tears) to my Mom, telling her my hands were on fire. Either my Mom was psychic or she was watching me out side shaking her head knowing what was to come, because she would always hand me a cup of hot chocolate to warm my hands up. Moms always know what to do to make you feel better.
Fast forward 30 years. My kids were outside playing in our unseasonably cold December weather. While the were not playing in the freezing snow without hand protection, I knew they were going to be cold. So, I did like my Mom and made hot chocolate.
Now I am sure she just ripped open the package of Hot chocolate mix and called it a night, but that is not how I roll. Homemade anything is the best in my opinion. But to be honest, it only takes 1 more minute to make and is a million times better.
