Around here, it has been rainy on and off for days. Of course, this is because we have people visiting from out of town, and it’s always rainy when people visit. The temperate rainforest that we live in needs to show itself off, I’m sure.
A lot of people have a hard time with darker, wetter and colder days. The fall and winter season sees a rise in SAD or Seasonal Affective Disorder. As a parent or small or not-so-small children, it’s easy to feel housebound.
I like the dark, wet fall weather because it inspires nesting and family time. Summer is a time for running around outside with others, while it seems like fall is a natural for renewing family bonds. However, after a while fall can feel like it’s grating on family bonds too, especially if you have many children in a small space.
My advice: get out! When my daughter was a baby, for the entire year I went outside with her at least once a day. We went for a walk. This was a sanity saver. Now that she is older and not entirely on my schedule, this happens less frequently. However, in the fall and winter I try to make a concerted effort to make walks happen, because a walk does us good. Even when it is cold and wet, we get fresh air and light that just doesn’t happen indoors. Going outside in the rain also cultivates a good attitude about weather. Weather happens, and it’s up to us to enjoy it when it does, no matter what that weather might be.
Also, if you’re the parent of a preschooler and you are at home during the day, I find that it’s a glorious time to be in the parks and on the trails. Around here, I can have them almost entirely to myself. There are enough other walkers to make us feel safe, and not so many that we feel overwhelmed. There’s a real sense of peace on the trails during this season.
If necessary, find an excuse to get out of the house. Go to the pumpkin patch or to the corner store for a hot chocolate. Take your own hot chocolate and go sit in the park. Ah. Fall.
Do you get out on wet, dark, and cool fall days?