How to remain an optimist while spending an hour in traffic with your destination in sight.

1. Refrain from looking at the clock. This is imperative.

2. Be thankful that you remembered to bring reading materials for the kids, who, upon seeing the destination, want to know if we’re almost there. (And not just a Highlights or a Garfield book. Something meaty that will last a while.)

3. Revel in the warmth of the car, especially if you have heated seats. There’s no way that you’d be this warm at home!

4. Remember that you’re out of the house, not shoveling and each child is buckled into their own seats, out of arm reach of each other. After so many snow days, it doesn’t get much better than that!