We’re only a month into winter and I’m already counting the days until summer. Actually, I will settle for any season free of snow, ice, and sub-zero wind chills. In most parts of the world that would be spring, but I reside in Wisconsin, where it can (and often does) snow in June.
Did I mention the state’s unofficial motto is: “Welcome to the land of two seasons: winter and construction.”
It would be funny if it were not the cold, hard truth.
I complained a lot about living in the Frozen Tundra when I was single. Partly, because I grew up in Hawaii and lacked perspective (translation: brain cells) and partly because I landed a job which required me to endure Mother Nature’s wrath head-on.
Then, I gave birth and my complaints turned into genuine concern.
Who raises a child in a place where the temperatures dip so low that the National Weather Service issues warnings to remain indoors?
Winter temps in the 20s and 30s are considered “normal,” but when you are dealing with month after month of the mercury not even hitting the single digits, well, that’s just inhumane, regardless of your age.
As a parent, dealing with the cold and kids is even more brutal.
In addition to the endless string of respiratory viruses that perpetuate in your kid’s bronchi during the winter months, there’s the cabin fever to deal with… and the constant hunt for lost gloves, boots, hats, and socks.
Of course, the drama that ensues from the daily exploration for missing mittens pales in comparison to the calamity caused when you try to stuff a screaming toddler into a sausage-style snowsuit.
It’s the only time I sweat during the winter months.
How do you deal with kids, freezing temperatures, and the lack of freedom this time of year?
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