I'm a Better Mother During Summer...??

Well, I'm the same way, but it's only HALF about the weather. The other half is:

No School=Relaxed Mom.

Maybe we'll go to the pool, maybe we'll go to the park, maybe we'll run through the sprinkler, maybe we'll do NOTHING, what does it matter it's NOT A SCHOOL NIGHT and THERE"S NO HOMEWORK!!!

Older I get, worse the winter gets. If I could take everyone and everything I love with me, I'd gladly move south.

We'll get through it together, right? Don't worry, spring WILL come again, and won't that be SA-WEET?

:)

I have felt the same way. I fee like in the winter I am boring and don't put forth as much effort, evne though I am still trying. I love the summer, I take them outside everyday and do so much more. The winter just drags me down. I try to break up the winter by making plans to go see family, or like next month we are going to stay the night at an indoor water park for some fun....Usually just getting out of the house is good. I am also thinking about taking my girls to one of those pottery places. good luck, at least we are sorta getting close to spring!!

As a New Englander, I feel your pain. I've never been a fan of winter yet here I choose to live and here it comes, year after year. By some twist of fate, I gave birth to kids who not only enjoy the cold, they play HOCKEY! So even when it's NOT cold outdoors, off we go to a freezing cold rink several days a week for 8 months a year.

So...I've learned that being appropriately dressed makes all the difference in the world. I took the kids sledding yesterday and even did a few runs myself and enjoyed it, because I had on boots, snow pants, a proper winter jacket, hat, gloves and neck warmer. I was warm and dry and didn't mind being out there at all. So check your wardrobe and if you lack the appropriate gear, add the pieces that you need so that it's less miserable out there. Also...see if you can dream up fun things that you can only do when it's cold and yucky out. Snow and ice activities are easy enough (sledding, skating) but for just cool and damp, maybe someone else will have some better ideas.

I AM EXACTLY THE SAME WAY!!

I hate winter.

I LOOOOOOVE SUMMER!!

I've taught myself that while winter super sucks, try to make the best of it. We play games, do puzzles and science experiments, read books... things I would never be able to do with the kids during the summer unless we're in the middle of a torrential downpour.

I take the opportunity to teach the girls to keep their room clean, give them extra chores, let them help me cook, show them how to do their hair and paint their nails...

I feel exactly like you. I use THEM as MY motivation to not want to crawl into bed and sleep until the warm weather finally blesses us ;) It took a long time for me to get to this point!!

Hang in there, summer's working on it ;)

You need to move to AZ. =)

Just wanted to share that I think my hubby is the same way. He's home with the kids Mon-Thurs then I have them on the weekends while he's working. We've both said multiple times in the past week or so how much harder it is on the kids when it's cold!! In the spring/summer/fall - we can wear them out by taking them outdoors, having them play in our huge backyard, go to the park, etc. I don't really have any tips except maybe try and google (or hopefully get good ideas) from here and try to incorporate 1 per day. I try to do something 'new' on the weekends. So it's not just the same ole' same ole' thing weekend to weekend. One weekend day we'll go to McDonalds and they will play on the play place. Other weekends we will make a new recipe or try out a new arts and craft project. What I did do this past weekend (even with an ice covered deck) was send them outside bundled (in snowsuits) and gave them each a trash can to help them 'skate' and not fall down. That lasted about 10 minutes. Then they were done! That is our biggest problem - even if/when we send them outside, they don't want to stay. I don't blame them because I'm inside while they are outside becuase it's too cold. LOL I'm interesetd in hearing others ideas! Thanks for the question!

If you get the answer let me know. Counting the weeks to Spring! Everyone
so much happier when we are outside,running, jumping, laughing. Fresh,
warm air is so nice. Cold, damp, and snowy just keeps us in and then
everyone gets themselves into trouble LOL.

Have a schedule already written out on your "blah" days. Have something planned for each 1/2 hr, like help fold laundry, read a book w/o pictures, read a magazine, kid #1 picks out a puzzle and everyon has to do it, cook dinner, group yoga, sweep and vaccum the stairs etc.

Have a jar filled w/pieces of paper of things like projects or games you guys can do when boredome hits. I have a jar like that, and I have supplies in a bag for each activity, so all we do is reach into the jar, pull out an idea, and then I go find the baggie of all the things we need to do. (I got my ideas from a book I found at the used book store "365 things to do on a rainy day".)

Keep a list of places you can go on the spur of the moment. Write down the name, hours, phone number and any fees you have to pay for adults/kids. That way, if you have to get out of the house, at least you won't be scrambling around to think of a place to go. Try to avoid listing the mall or movie theaters. Save those for really really long days at home, like holidays and school cancellations.

Another thought is a list of people you and your kids can go visit, like an elderly woman in your neighborhood or in your church. Maybe you can even bake cookies and make some homemade cards for him/her.

I'm the opposite, seasonally. Being in Houston, TX, the summers are brutal and I melt if I go outside. I don't take my kids to the zoo or parks or even let them play outside really, so our summers are like the dreariness of your winters! We do go to the pool or splash park, but not as often as we would like. But since our winters are very mild and comfortable, that is when we tend to be more active, when I cook and bake more (b/c baking in 100+ summer heat is horrid)..

I would look around at indoor active places during the winter to visit. Like bounce houses, indoor playgrounds, gyms, skating rinks and the like. Go for family walks if the weather is more mild. Have craft time, or make visits to the library, maybe have a family goal for everyone to do some reading. But don't think you need to be out in it every day, especially if the weather is really bad. Also, stay motivated during the day to still cook and be active inside at home, even if it's just playing a game of freeze tag or duck duck goose or a dance-a-thon or something on the cold, winter afternoons.

I despise being cold. Hate, hate, hate it.

This Winter we did something different. We got a whole bunch of big boxes and made tunnels everywhere upstairs (where the kids' rooms are). Duct tape and cardboard. Is it neat and pretty up there? Nope. But they spend HOURS working on it, remodeling, making little side-forts.

You just have to figure out something to do that will physically and mentally engage them. Viola! Happy kiddoes.

I'm the same way! I love being outside, picking weeds, planting flowers, playing with the kids, etc. I also love the heat b/c it means that we can be out later. My huband has to make me come in at 8pm when it's warm b/c I just let time get away from me.
What I've done this winter is find really fun indoor things to do. "Laser beams" made out of streamers, marble tracks made out of pool noodles, etc. Pinterest has a ton of great rainy day ideas for kids. It's helped me a ton! Can't wait for spring though!

im the same way. the thought of hiking in the cold makes M. want to cry, lol. i can think of a zillion things to do, its J. i have no motivation to freeze my butt off

Im a better mother during winter, I live in Houston and in accordance with that i get hot easily and get temperamental with the heat. Fall and winter are my only chances to open the windows, jump on the trampoline with the kids, pick flowers, picnic and go walking on the spur of a moment.

otherwise we are all hiding inside in the a.c.

I live in Florida, but have the exact opposite problem... It's WAY to hot down here in the summer, and I have NO ENERGY and NO DESIRE to walk outside and be soaked in sweat..... I LOVEEEEEEE the winters ( we obviously don't get freezing temperatures).... I more awake, I'm more into "playing" with my son and the neigbhorhood kids, I'm in a MUCH better mood, I have more energy........ Guess we all can't have exactly what we want.... I would love to move out of Florida because it's too hot down here :)

oh i am a 100 per cent like you. i live close to the beach. come summer time, i do the exact same thing, either beach or pool for half a day, and the other half, i am cleaning, working, cooking and kids are relaxing. come winter, i am hibernating. we just got our first snow of the year this weekend. thank god for the weekend. my hubby took the kids out in the snow, they sled and sled wow they looked beautiful with red cheeks when they came in. i was all prepared by then with hot cocoa for one and orange spice tea for the other with freshly baked cookies. they loved it. and thank god come today, it rained and the snow is gone :) i don't feel bad though. i know i am an awesome mom during other seasons, except for winter.
i just taught my 7 year olds how to play chess so now we spend our evenings cuddling up with a book or playing chess.

This is why we moved to Florida. I can not stand cold winters anymore. I was much like you in the winter months and it drove me crazy.

I'm sorry I do not have any ideas for you other then to dress warm and get your butts outside for a brisk walk. If you can try to get at least 15 minutes of sunshine a day (even when it's cold) it should help give you a little boost.

I've been working on this too, here in the rainy NW. I realize that my kids need at least 30 min of running time each day and life is easier for all of us. I also want them to have more time outside. I just learned that they go into the library on rainy days at school during recess. I sure wish they had an extra gym for recess so they would run and play at school. Anyway, I've decided to walk them after school for 30 min. Yep, just like our dog (she needs more exercise too). So, we'll be going around the loop at the park a few times each afternoon and then they can play a little before we head home for homework. If it's crazy raining, I'm going to have my daughter do the treadmill. Not kidding. This kid needs regular exercise in order to stay happy. I'm hoping it works. She's eight, so I think she's old enough for it to be safe with me close by. While she's doing that I can play something sporty with my son in the garage.

Anyway, I feel your pain. It's much harder for me to want to get up in the winter. Fortunately, I have to take the kids to school, so there's no lazing around allowed. I do much better with a schedule. So, even on those days when you really have no motivation, you stick to a plan. We actually have one written out and it helps us manage the kids too. I also make a to-do list each day of 3 or 4 things I really want to get done that day. It helps keep me going. Then I feel great after those are done.

OH and I'm making my grocery list today and will be getting a weeks worth of meals, so we'll be cooking and enjoying eating healthy. I haven't done my list for two weeks and we've been having to get really creative with dinners. haha.

One thing our family is pretty good at is juicing. We have a nice juicer and I swear my daily veg/fruit juice has kept me feeling great all winter. The kids tolerate a shot of juice each day which is loaded with nutrients.

I hear you!
Can you:
-take them to the mall to walk around?
-go to the library for reading time?
-when it's rainy & I feel stuck inside I go to any local store to walk around:
grocery store (one has aisles of kids stuff, jewelry, fun seasonal stuff to
look at)
-any indoor "romp" rooms? Gymnastics on the cheap? Just a place to tumble?
-$3 movies?
-rent a $1 movie from Redbox the night before (something you can all enjoy)
-do a craft (make placemats, decorate cheap frames)
-draw, paint, color
-decorate plaster little figurines (buy ahead of time from local craft store)
-make a tent of blankets & "camp out" in the living room complete w/hot
cocoa
-do an internet search for a "simulated indoor sunshine" gadget to help w/
the gloomy days
-pick up as big of a box as you can get for free from a grocery store & turn
into a house for inside living room (make sure no inside staples)
-have a beach party inside: beach ball, radio of fun summer music, beach towels laid out on living room floor, water served in cute, fun, pretty plastic tumblers they sell for "summertime"
-picnic on the living room floor
-get a pkg of cheap balloons (blow up, no helium required) & fill a room for a "fake" birthday party & some color, follow up w/cupcakes & punch.

I'm the opposite - I LOVE winter! Do you have good capilene or polypropylene long underwear you can wear under your clothes and a good wind layer (pants, coat) to wear on top? I found in Alaska that no matter how damp and cold it was...if I was wearing REI quality long underwear under say fleece pants with a shell on top...same kind of thing on top...as well as a good jacket, winter had and waterproof/windproof gloves...I could do just about anything outside. Same went for our son. We would go to the beach in our snow or rain boots over warm socks (Splurge on awesome socks for you and the kids - Smartwool is the best) and spend hours finding cool things and playing with streams on the sand. We'd always get out and hike and cross-country ski and downhill ski. Our son has been cross-county skiing since he was 18 months old! He didn't want to downhill ski till he was 3. Now at 7 he kicks my butt. Our daughter is now 2 and she is just starting to learn to xcountry ski. Snowshoeing is fun for kids. Just hiking to a destination is great even if it is cold and drizzly out, once you get going you get warmed up. If you are doing something active you don't tend to get cold. We love to pick a yurt or cabin to go to each winter (rented out by the BLM or forest service). I love to hike all winter long. Snowpants and snow boots are key because the kids like to go off trail at times to explore and you want to stay warm. I bring hot cocoa and sandwiches and m&ms for motivation in a backpack. You just have to get out and once you are out there it is most often quite fun. If you just get too cold then you can hop in the car and all go get ice cream or something. Now we live in a mountain town in NM and even though it's a snowy cold winter, it all just feels so balmy here to me. Just go out in the morning properly dressed...pick something active to do...and see how long you last. You will feel so much better for it all day!!! You can do it!

I would look into a "Happy Light," you could have Seasonal Affective Disorder, which is depression caused by too little light exposure and is really common here. My mood is MUCH better when I use one, and I think you can even get them at Costco.

Good luck, fellow summer-lover!

D.

Ephie you can not move....:)

I am the same way. I HATE being cold. And I hate it even more when there is NOT the option to get warm.

For us it comes down to we either stay at home or I get them out for a little bit during the day to do something like...go to the toy at the mall.

I know the Children's Museum down there is amazing!! If I renew our member ship once we get our Taxes done....I will come down and we can take the kids to the Museum!!!

I know that does not help the everyday stuff but it gives you an option:)

We will be down in Feb alot....I will get your tushy in gear:) and get those kids out and outta your hair!!

I wish I had better idea's...I have just been surviving dealing with whining children and over watching of TV at this point:)

Here is to spring coming very very very soon! I am ready to attempt a Washington Tan again this spring and summer!!

Can you send them outside and they will stay close? My kids will go outside rain or shine....I just give um umbrella's......between that, the rain boots and puddles they are normally pretty pleased....that and they finish it up with a nice warm bath afterwards:)