How/When Do You Shovel Snow? With A Houseful of Kids?

[mommiebookworm]

How do you handle clearing snow from your driveway and/or sidewalks and stairs when you have a houseful of kids?
I usually have the kids play in the snow while I shovel. I thought about having them help me.

[Play Care]

If I can get out to shovel with the kids we do. But mostly I remind parents to wear boots ifs it's snowed during the day as I can't guarentee I'll be able to do it. I will leave the shovel out and they can have at it if they feel inclined

I do have parents sign a waiver acknowledging that use of the driveway and walkway during the winter is at their own risk. While it won't prevent me from being sued to begin with, it may prevent them from getting anything out of it.

[Blackcat31]

How do you handle clearing snow from your driveway and/or sidewalks and stairs when you have a houseful of kids?
I usually have the kids play in the snow while I shovel. I thought about having them help me.

I will shovel if the kids are outside (they do "help" sometimes) but otherwise, my DH plows before I open and will plow and/or shovel again at lunch if need be.

I have a couple golden DCD's that will grab the shovel and clear the walk if necessary at pick up.

[Ariana]

I also get my husband to do it in the morning and then when he gets home. I can't seem to convince him to buy a snowblower or get a snowplow service to do it so he just uses a shovel. We don't get that much snow so it has worked fine for us in years past. This year I have a child that comes at noon and this will be my first year with a kid that comes in the middle of the day so it will be interesting!

[mommiebookworm]

I sure miss having hubby's help! He started a new job in June that is 40 miles away. He leaves home around 5 am and returns around 7 pm, so he really isn't able to help during the week.

[childcaremom]

We clear before I open. I will not be able to get out front with the children which means if it snows during the day then it won't get cleared.

I have heated mats for my stairs and entrance so at least that is clear.

[finsup]

My husband does it (snowblower actually) before work and when he gets home if needed. I will put salt down frequently but generally don't get out to shovel. If there's a storm going on, parents realize it's not going to get done. I don't close for weather so its a trade off (all explained ahead of time). One dcd will often do it for me though lovethis

[Pepperth]

Hubby does it before he leaves for work. If it accumulates much during the day, I may try to get the main entrance cleared with kids help, but it won't get competent cleared until after everybody leaves.

[Alwaysgreener]

I hired a plow service for our driveway. Dh does the path before work, then again when he comes home. If he not making home on time and it needs to be cleared, I will call the teen next door.
However, a dcm shows up late while it is snowing and complains that there is an inch of snow in the driveway. Then another day it snowed after dh went to work and part of the path was covered, she complained about that too. my thought was, you lived here all your life, you know it is snowing, why is the snow on the ground surprising you?

[nothingwithoutjoy]

It was too stressful for me to try to get it all cleared before families arrive; it can take me hours. I knew I'd never be able to manage it, so I decided it was well worth it to hire a plow service. (They snow blow/shovel sidewalks, too, and even a path to my chicken coop, though I didn't ask them to do that last.) It's a big expense, but makes a huge difference for my sanity.

[Unregistered]

If I can get out to shovel with the kids we do. But mostly I remind parents to wear boots ifs it's snowed during the day as I can't guarentee I'll be able to do it. I will leave the shovel out and they can have at it if they feel inclined

I do have parents sign a waiver acknowledging that use of the driveway and walkway during the winter is at their own risk. While it won't prevent me from being sued to begin with, it may prevent them from getting anything out of it.

It doesn't protect you. Where I live, there's like time limit for shoveling before you get tickets, I think after two tickets, you get a fine. It's under 24 hours, but I forget the exact number. I either have my husband do it or pay someone locally to do it. Also, they can still sue you for injury.

[MunchkinWrangler]

The best thing you can do is at night and before you open, and while the kids are outside. Use salt, that helps to at least keep it under control and it prevents icy spots.

[Play Care]

It doesn't protect you. Where I live, there's like time limit for shoveling before you get tickets, I think after two tickets, you get a fine. It's under 24 hours, but I forget the exact number. I either have my husband do it or pay someone locally to do it. Also, they can still sue you for injury.

I don't live in a city or have sidewalks so no time limits here. And as I said it won't stop someone from suing you, it may prevent any awards as they acknowledged they know I'm unable to clear the sidewalks and driveway while adequately caring for/supervising children. I hate to see people advising publicly that waivers are worthless because again, while they won't stop a law suit they may prevent it from getting anywhere or awards being made.

[Jack Sprat]

We haven't had enough snow for us to justify a snow blower. My DH, DS or I will shovel before daycare opens. If it snows during the day, then I try to do it quickly at nap or when DS gets home from school he does it. I have a straight shot from our front door to the street, so the parents rarely park in the drive, so I don't worry about it.

Now, I have jinxed myself saying we haven't had a lot of snow..

[Ariana]

I sure miss having hubby's help! He started a new job in June that is 40 miles away. He leaves home around 5 am and returns around 7 pm, so he really isn't able to help during the week.

If my hubs wasn't doing it I would be getting a plow service for sure. You can write off as a business expense as well.