Mar 11, 2015 4 min read

Q.Can you help with an argument I’m having with my dad? He says I’m not “mature” because I get so happy when there’s a snow day. He says when I’m an adult, I’ll realize how lazy I am right now. I agree I’ll understand life differently when I’m a grown-up. I also understand I might just be miserable when we don’t have spring break or when it’s June and we’re still in school. But still, I love snow days! I love sleeping in, watching TV, listening to music and not needing to go out in the cold. So, what do you think? Am I like other girls my age?

14-year-old

Mary Jo’s response: Both you and your dad have an opinion about your attitude about school closings. I can see both sides of the argument. Yes, adult life is different. I actually do like snow days – to a point! Since I teach, I often cannot go to a school when a cancellation happens, but most adults need to report for work, regardless of weather.

I wouldn’t use the word lazy to describe your reaction to winter days off. Are you like other girls your age? I do think your feelings are typical of most young people. Luckily, I have a dynamic group of peer educators at my disposal to double-check my opinion. I asked how they felt about snow days this winter. Your dad may be surprised to find other girls your age feel as you do. Here are some of their thoughts:

• Jamie Barton: The snow days and cancellations make me feel happy and sad because when we get cancellations at school I get to sleep more, but now we don’t have any days off for spring break.

• Mikayla DeBaker: I’m a senior, so I no longer care very much about snow days. We might go on a Saturday, but I stopped caring.

• Siarra Demichele: Snow days are great for getting sleep, but afterward I just lay on the couch doing nothing.

• Serena Green: Snow days are absolutely lovely, until they relieve me of my spring holiday. Then they are an annoyance.

• Toni Maurer: Snow cancellations this winter made me feel more rested. It’s understandable that the cold air and the icy roads are a problem for those who walk and even drive! Missing a bit of spring break and adding days to the end of the year is unfortunate, but adding the days and making them up later is so much better than risking injury or anything else on a day where the weather is uncooperative to us students. Some students fail to understand that, but someday we will all realize that these cancellations and make-up days are all for our own benefit.

• Alivia Montgomery: Snow days are very relaxing because you get a day off when you didn’t expect it! Even though we have to make the days up, I’d still much rather go to school in higher temperatures than what it is now.

• Shelby Studt: School cancellations have made me feel more thankful for school than I was before. Normally, cancellations are great days to spend inside or with friends, but the cold has gotten pretty bad this year, which I don’t think any of us enjoyed.

• Maci Joelle Ward: Snow days are the best when you first get the call, but when you have to make them up in the spring, it isn’t so much fun anymore. I don’t mind having them every once in a while, though.

• Hope Work: I love snow days and all, but I’m getting sick of being cold and not being able to go outside in the sun.

Have a question? Send it to Dr. Mary Jo Podgurski’s email at podmj@healthyteens.com.