2025 Houston Snow Day - My Biggest Takeaway

Houston was hit with more snow than I’ve ever seen here on Tuesday, January 21, 2025. The city was ready for it. Businesses were closed, airports were closed, schools were closed, and people were home. Kids were excited, it felt like Christmas, and adults were a mix of delight and anxiety as we waited to see how our pipes would hold up (Winter storm Uri still in our minds).

When I woke up that morning I shuffled over to my window to get a peek. As I took in the sight of my snow-covered backyard I could hear my kids already awake, bundles of excitement, ready to run outside. I hurried out of my room to demand they put on warmer clothes and the house was a little chaotic as we hastily threw on our thickest shirts and pants and zipped up coats. I rushed to throw on some extra layers as no one (including my husband) had an ounce of patience in them to get outside.

The rest of our day I expect was similar for many Houstonians. We walked around to take in our Winter Wonderland, had snowball fights, built a snowman, and took breaks for hot chocolate and curled up by the fireplace with movies and video games to warm up.

We made some cozy, beautiful memories, and I learned something.

Earlier that morning I looked at my to do list and crossed out each item. Then I drew a checkbox and wrote:

enjoy the snow day

As the sun went down, and the day began to come to a close, I wondered if I had done enough. Did I do enough for the kids? Also, it didn’t feel very adult-like to just throw out the to-do list. But before I could go down that rabbit hole, I could see how happy my kids were. And on top of their enthusiasm for the snow day, was their delight that I had spent the day playing, singing, and cuddling with them. And now this is a memory we hold together.

So, moving forward, I hope I never doubt taking advantage of special days. It’s good to keep in mind your priorities. Sometimes the to-do list has to be prioritized to keep things running smoothly, and other times it’s something that can wait.

Every now and again we are gifted with a chance to make magical memory. Stay present so you can catch those moments. Sometimes making the most of them doesn’t require anything big or flashy. The moment often just asks that you give it your full attention.