Tag Archives: winter blues

Affordable Ways to Combat the Winter Blues

So much for my New Year’s resolution. I’ve been consuming carbs at a frightening pace while battling severe allergies. Truthfully, I doubt the two are correlated.  Rather, I am blaming the wicked winter weather.   I’d bet a hundred bucks I wouldn’t be tempted to gorge on donuts, French toast and cinnamon buns if I were basking on a beach right now… in a bikini. Winter is brutal here in the Upper Midwest, which is why so many people suffer with seasonal doldrums.  The winter blues can strike family members of all ages, including children.  Consequently, it’s a good idea to … Continue reading →

Conquering Cabin Fever

If the only thing your child is suffering with right now is cabin fever, consider yourself lucky. Contrary to popular belief, kids can contract strep throat and hand-foot-and-mouth disease at the same time. Oh.Yes.They.Can. Let me tell you how I know this… Actually, I will spare you the gory details and instead share more practical advice for conquering cabin fever during these last days of winter break.  Students in our neck of the woods head back to class next Monday.  That means parents have to endure a few more days of kids complaining that their new Christmas toys are not … Continue reading →

Seasonal Affective Disorder

When I first got divorced I was sad. Not really depressed but probably more than just run of the mill sad. In the winter it was particularly bad, I went to work when it was dark and came home when it was dark. There were entire days I never saw the sun. When I wasn’t at work, I just wanted to sleep. I would come home from work, throw something together for dinner and then nap on the couch until Hailey woke me up for bed. After a few weeks I realized there was a problem, my house was a … Continue reading →

Warding Off the Winter Blues

It’s that time of year again – the winter doldrums are just setting in and many of parents, and their kids, are struggling with Seasonal Affective Disorder. With that pesky groundhog recently making his appearance and predicting the ever-typical long winter, it’s time to find some solutions to alleviate the yearly visit of the Winter Blues. What Is Seasonal Affective Disorder? SAD, as it’s so appropriately called, affects one in five Americans. It looks and appears just like typical depression but is differentiated by the seasonal cycles it takes – coming on slowly in autumn, alleviating in spring. If you … Continue reading →