As winter settles in, it’s that time of year again—hot cocoa, cozy fires, and festive lights. Yet, my sons continue to dress as if we’re sunbathing on a tropical beach, completely ignoring the near-freezing temperatures outside.
Honestly, I can’t wrap my head around it. After over four decades on this planet and more than 11 years of motherhood, there are some things I’ve accepted I’ll never quite understand. For instance, I can’t grasp quantum physics or Common Core math. I’m also baffled by my kids’ fascination with YouTube videos of people unboxing toys. And why do they wake up earlier when they stay up late?
But the biggest enigma? Why do my tween and teen boys insist on donning shorts and t-shirts in December, regardless of the snow on the ground? Even when the air is filled with frost, they refuse to wear coats, seemingly immune to the cold.
To their credit, they seldom voice complaints about the chill. They’ve learned that if they shiver in my presence after I’ve pointed out the frigid weather, they’ll face my infamous glare. So, the “I’m cold” whining is off the table, boys.
At this point, I’ve stopped nagging them to dress appropriately for the weather. If they get too cold, they’ll eventually reach for warmer clothes, right? Theoretically, anyway. But these stubborn kids would rather risk frostbite than admit their old mom was right about needing a hat and gloves.
Truthfully, it’s not even their choice of clothing that irks me; it’s the passive-aggressive comments from bystanders.
“No, grocery store cashier, my son isn’t going to catch a cold for not wearing a coat. That’s not how it works! If he gets sick, it will be from the germ-filled classroom he’s in all winter.”
And yes, Aunt Linda, I do purchase winter gear for my kids. They just opt not to wear it. I’ve decided to let them face the natural consequences of their choices (like being cold) in hopes it inspires better decisions in the future.
To the stranger on the street, I can’t just “make” my kids wear coats. My son is 11 and nearly as tall as I am. It would be physically impossible to force his arms into a coat, and even if I could manage it, I wouldn’t. We value body autonomy here.
One of the most significant lessons I’ve learned in parenting is to choose my battles wisely, and this just isn’t one I’m willing to fight. So here we are, with temperatures hovering in the mid-30s, frost on the ground, and snow on the horizon. My sons are still strutting around in shorts and t-shirts, while I stifle the urge to tell them to put on some proper clothing.
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In summary, I’ve chosen to stop battling my kids over their winter attire, opting instead to let them learn from their decisions while I focus on the bigger parenting challenges.