No Such Thing As Bad Weather?
Since we are all experiencing freezing cold temperatures, let’s talk about the weather. This week in West Michigan, the temperature has been in single digits, and the wind chill just plummets the temperature a shocking negative double digits. We live one block away from the lake and the wind that whips off that lake is viscous. It feels like instant frostbite.
The thought of dragging myself outside to scrape off my car, warm it up, and actually drive somewhere sounds terrible and that’s not even being outside for very long. I mean thank goodness for the invention of an automatic car starter, that helps out some (first world problems). The other thought I have each day is going outside to our cooler to get breakfast, snack, lunch, second snack, and dinner because we are in the middle of a kitchen remodel. Wow… is that a way to wake up in the morning! It is also one of those things that you just take it on the chin because it is what it is - we have to eat and my son eats often so… outside for food we go.
Ugh… I’m just chilled to the bone all day long.
Okay, now… getting outside for play. Well… that has been a real challenge. Yesterday, I got my son all dressed in his snowsuit, boots, gloves, and hat. Then I got dressed in all of my gear and the effort and time it takes to get all of us dressed is astounding. Especially with a little man who doesn’t want to go outside - all those videos of parents trying to get their toddler dressed and their toddler acts like a crocodile… yes, that is the truth. Well, I got Jay dressed and myself dressed and then I thought, crap, I didn’t have Jay use the bathroom before we go outside…. Ugh!
Undress, bathroom, redress, and wrestle the crocodile again. Phew…
So, the whole goal was to go outside for just a teeny, tiny bit of time. We walked down to our mailbox to get the mail - check. We picked up our two snow shovels and pushed some snow off the porch and walkway - check. We both looked at each other and were like… back inside? Yes, please!
I’m a big believer of getting outside no matter the weather and no matter your comfort zone. You get outside everyday. Even when it sucks - rain, snow, wind, or if you live in a Michigan, a combination of all three. There are so many, research-backed benefits for getting outside.
There are also some realities for getting outside:
The actual temperature for being outside. Too cold and too hot temperatures are important to pay attention too. In those circumstances, just mini-bursts of outdoor time is completely acceptable and wise. No one wants a little babe to get overheated or for their little fingers to be beat red from the cold.
The clothes you wear outside. In this modern era, we have access to many options of high quality clothing. Not all of the clothing has to be expensive or name brand, it just has to work. For our family, there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes. If you go outside and it is freezing and you were thin leggings, athletic socks, non-insulated boots, a coat, thin mittens, and a hat… you are going to be cold as soon as you walk outside. Of course you aren’t going to stay outside - you didn’t dress for the weather. But if you wear the right clothes and shoes, you can stay outside longer and be more comfortable.
The effort it takes to get yourself and your kids outside. A friend of mine told me that she doesn’t take her kids outside because it is too much work. I get that. I really really do. If your child or children are putting up a fight to go outside… it’s difficult. If you can’t freaking find the clothes you need for your kid to get outside… it’s difficult. If you, yourself, don’t really like going outside… it’s difficult. A different friend of my also has said that it’s difficult getting her kids outside but once everyone passes the threshold of the door to go outside, it gets easier. I completely agree! Once we pass that door threshold, it is easier to stay outside - it’s easier to say no to going back inside - it’s easier.
I’m not sure what the specific weather is like where you live right now. For us, it’s freaking cold out. I hope that you are finding the will and the way to get outside for just a couple minutes each day and then run back inside to enjoy a great blanket snuggle.
Stay frosty out there!
