Things I Tell My Wife by Matt Knutson

“Have you seen spring?” I asked my wife after learning snow was potential in the forecast again this weekend. I couldn’t believe that we could even have the possibility of a winter storm watch in the middle of April. I’m not too passionate about any season over another, but I do prefer that they all get their equal time. This year it seems like winter might be overstaying its welcome.

Maybe I wouldn’t mind the snow so much if we weren’t being teased so regularly with warmer temperatures. I can’t count the times I’ve hung up my winter coat for what should have been the last time of the season, only to reluctantly bring it out again as I headed for the snow blower. I wonder if anyone out there even celebrates the arrival of snow this late in the year. Instead, we should all be anticipating growth with the new season.

At day care, my eldest daughter’s classroom has embraced some naturally spring-like activities. The most prominent would be planting five seeds in a cup and watching them grow. To be honest, I’m not sure if it will end up as a vegetable, flower or something unrecognizable, but it is quite clear that something is growing in the small container, and it brings hope along with it in the pursuit of new heights.

Of course, our family’s desire to overcome any unnatural weather phenomena is to pursue the classic spring cleaning initiative. Never have we been as diligent as now in spring cleaning. We’re not just wiping door mirrors and vacuuming the carpet; we’re throwing things away and going into the nooks and crannies. Sometimes I question how worthwhile this endeavor might be, but then I look around and see just how remarkable our place looks now that it has been decluttered. If only there was a way to keep it this pristine.

Our main battle with spring cleaning is far from a looming threat of snow. Instead, it’s our daughters, who have not yet come to comprehend that every item has a place and that we should attempt to return items to where they belong. Coats are flung on the ground, socks are drawn to the most random places on the floor, and toys are tucked into the couch cushions to be discovered at a later day. Our dedicated play places have migrated from specific rooms to the entire house. I’m sure this isn’t an unusual feat, but it has become very clear that snow is not the only unwanted thing that is arriving at my house without cause.

Digging out of toys and snow in the coming days isn’t our ideal version of fun, but it will be necessary in our pursuit toward a better life. Every time I think we have one of these tasks mastered, they return to the forefront. Perhaps we’re still learning, and perhaps what we need to learn is acceptance that sometimes the unwanted action will come to life, and you’ll have to deal with the consequences of it. As the saying goes, April showers bring May flowers. Sometimes you have to work a little bit harder for those May flowers; getting in some extra effort to make sure those flowers really turn out great when they make their appearance. Hopefully we’ll all be in agreement that the sunny weather and a clean house are well worth the wait, but hopefully our already extended wait will come to an end soon.

Matt Knutson is a communications specialist in Rochester.