Those who know me will know that I dislike winter. Dislike is probably a little mild, actually. Hate, would be a better word. Abhor, perhaps. Loath. Detest. Hey… sure, a fine winter’s day with snow on the ground when you’re dressed properly… I can enjoy that. But the rest of it. Hate it. Abhor it. Loath it. Detest it. But it’s worse now. Cause not only do I have to try and keep myself warm, I have to keep a child warm! Read on for my rant!
Going to daycare
When Sam started at daycare it was still warm. I could hand him off in shorts and a t-shirt, barefoot, and life was simple. As it got increasingly colder it got increasingly more annoying to prepare Sam in the mornings. They do outdoor time every day, which is great, but it means you have to have the right stuff. They even have a list to demonstrate to kids how to get dressed up for the cold. I had to study it myself. All I had to learn in Australia was how to tie my shoes. How to put on a hat. How to zip up a jacket. Not how to put on mittens! Or a ski suit!
Even just the walk from the car
We are lucky to live so close to daycare. Still, it’s too far to walk with a toddler… and the route takes us past a playground so we would never get there. So each morning I struggle to manoeuvre his wiggling body in the car seat, while he decides he wants to do his own thing while we are both underdressed and freezing! Then I’m feeling bad cause for safety reasons he shouldn’t wear a jacket in the car… but it’s minus degrees and snowing! And then you have to reverse everything just for the very short walk from the car park to the daycare door… and then remove everything when you get inside!
The endless sicknesses
With September and cooler weather inevitably came the daycare sicknesses. For him… and for us. The runny nose just never ends, the rough nights because his nose is blocked, and you just feel lucky if you get through a week without a mild fever or a vomit.
Just trying to go outside
It’s never easy getting a toddler to do anything. And even though I know he wants to play outside, it doesn’t mean he wants to get ready for it. In summer I could just chase after him with a hat and slip-on shoes. Now it’s over-pants, jacket, beanie, winter shoes and all the rest. Honestly there have been many days when I’ve just given up. I mean, I don’t really want to go outside anyway.
And I’m always underdressed
In the rush of trying to get ready and leave it seems that I’m the one who ends up missing out. Sammy’s good but I forgot to grab my beanie, or my gloves… so I just shiver through whatever outing we’re on until I can get inside and get warm again. Did I mention I hate being cold?
And finally… the freezing nights
It’s much easier now that I don’t have to do overnight feeds, and Sam’s generally a good sleeper. Still, there are always phases… and sicknesses… and then… there I am once again lying on the ice-cold hard floor shivering while I wait for him to fall back to sleep. But since no one likes getting back into an ice cold bed, I brought back the trusty electric blanket, so at least the return to bed has me toasty warm!
So bring on Summer. We’re barely half way through and I’ve had enough.
an aussie in austria 