I love the snow. My kids love the snow. It’s beautiful and magical, and it usually causes a heated before-school “discussion” (fight) with my kids.
The discussion generally revolves around two issues; coats and snow boots.
My older kids hate wearing coats to school. Their classrooms are very warm (thankfully) and they only need their coat while walking to and from the car or bus. The three-minute walk into the school building does not warrant the need for a coat (they claim). It is also a pain to fit a large coat into their small lockers. Although I feel silly letting my middle and high school kids leave the house without a coat, during a snowstorm, I let it slide.
I just want all the teachers and school staff to know, my kids do own coats, they just choose not to wear them (mom fail).
Fortunately, I don’t have to have the “coat discussion” with my elementary kids. They spend their recess time playing outside, and they like to be warm (mom win).
The second discussion about snow boots is a bit more challenging. For my middle and high school kids, snow boots are out of the question. I don’t even try to start the conversation. They leave the house in their canvas shoes and thin socks and trudge through the snow. Oh well.
Surprisingly, I struggle to convince my elementary girls to wear snow boots. Even with just an inch or two of snow on the grass, I know their shoes and socks will get soaked after the first recess. They protest, “snow boots are hot and bulky.” And, “it’s hard to play in boots during recess and P.E.”
After the last snow storm, I “won” the discussion, and both the girls left the house in snow boots. That particular day it warmed up and all the snow melted by lunch time. It was also the day of the school P.E. jump rope competition. My daughter came home with hot feet, a poor jumping score, and angrily vowed to never wear snow boots to school again.
To sum up my morning, none of my kids went to school with coats or snow boots today (it’s currently snowing with four inches on the ground).
The struggle is real.
Do your kids wear snow boots or coats on snowy days? What are winter mornings like in your house? Email me at [email protected]
