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Parents Are Feeling Trapped As Snow Days Pile Up In The Tri-Cities

Nearly a dozen snow days in the Tri-Cities have left some parents feeling trapped.
Anna King
/
Northwest News Network
Nearly a dozen snow days in the Tri-Cities have left some parents feeling trapped.

Old Man Winter has struck again east of the Cascades. Residents woke up Wednesday to find the deep snow covering the area frosted by an ice storm.

In the Tri-Cities, children have had nearly a dozen snow days and late-start days this winter. Piled on with airport, mountain pass and work closures -- many parents are feeling quite trapped.

Dori Luzzo Gilmour said keeping her 8, 7 and 4-year-old peaceful and entertained has been challenging.

“I love my kids,” she said. “But I need them to go to school.

Luzzo Gilmour said they’ve stamped paper, sledded hills, painted pictures, read books, practiced their letters, watched PBS and hunted down playdates.

But…

“I’m stuck in the house with these people,” Luzzo Gilmour said with tongue planted firmly in cheek. “And they eat a lot Anna. They eat.”

Luzzo Gilmour said summer break is melting away. Now school goes nearly until the end of June. But in the near term, “It’s a laundry, dishes nightmare right now.”

Copyright 2017 Northwest News Network

Anna King calls Richland, Washington home and loves unearthing great stories about people in the Northwest. She reports for the Northwest News Network from a studio at Washington State University, Tri-Cities. She covers the Mid-Columbia region, from nuclear reactors to Mexican rodeos.