Last winter was rough.  I felt like I spent weeks cooped up indoors with a warmth-loving 3-year-old and a wild-monster 1-year old.

It’s true, my oldest is something of a hothouse flower.  She loves heat and being naked.

She’d probably thrive in Southern Florida, but she’s going to have to wait till college for that lifestyle.

Just when I despair that A will never share her parents’ love of vigorous, outdoor winter activities, I catch myself.  Bitter cold, ice and snow are inherently challenging for small children.

Other people’s kids may play happily for hours in 18-degree howling winds, but not my two.

A and C prefer doing naked somersaults, flips and headstands on the bed– games which come naturally to them and require no extensive bundling or weather-beaten toughness.

So why start a battle over cross-country skiing at ages 2 and 4?

At the one-year anniversary of my very first Spilt Milk column (”Cabin Fever“), we are surviving winter (a bit) more smoothly.  The change is not momentous.  One year later, I still get cabin fever every afternoon and need to devise tricks to get the girls outside.

Mommy’s Sanity-Saving Winter Tricks:

1.  Maybe there’s a package in the mailbox…

2.  Let’s check the chickens and make sure their combs haven’t fallen off from frostbite!

3. How about swinging on the playset!

4.  I’ll pull you fast on the snow-tube…

5. Let’s make a Snow Kitty (Bunny/ Unicorn/ Fairy)!

6.  CHOCOLATE CHIPS!

Tags: No Comments