This morning after Munchkin and I waved goodbye to Monkey, we headed to the park. Yesterday's blustery weather had thrown me off and left me feeling cold so today Munchkin and I were toastily zipped into jackets. Monkey's bus was only a few feet away when Munchkin started to pull at her sleeves and protest. I rolled them up, hoping that would soothe her, but instead, she immediately tore off her jacket. I tried, repeatedly, to put the jacket back on her but she expertly dodged me and ran off to tear into the playground.
There I was, with my long sleeved shirt, jacket and jeans, while she ran around in her dress and leggings. Up and down she went but no matter how cold her hands were, she refused to put her jacket on until we left the park, exhausted.
In general, I trust my children to tell me when they're hot or cold and I try not to force them to wear extra gear. Monkey usually choses to wear clothes appropriate for the temperature outdoors. Munchkin is a different story. Ever since she sprinted around the swimming pool locker room naked while Monkey chattered under a towel, I've noticed she's a bit more hot-blooded. (Or hardheaded? The jury is still out.) This morning, her hands were cold but even as I tried to warm them up, she shrugged me off to climb on up the jungle gym.
I don't have too much shame about being the mother who lets her kid wear mismatched clothes and run barefoot at the park (Munchkin is Houdini-like with her ability to remove shoes at Hussain Bolt-speeds), but Munchkin's propensity to remove outer layers makes me a little uncomfortable for a few reasons: 1) I think that if I'm cold, then she must be cold too, but since my lovely mother gets cold about 10 degrees before I do, I've started to doubt myself and that logic. 2) She's actually cold. Sometimes her hands are cold so I know she must be feeling chilly. 3) I don't want to be that mother screaming, "Put your jacket on, I'm freezing!!" while chasing after my kid with her jacket. Don't get me wrong, if it's below freezing, I'll tackle Munchkin to get that jacket on her, but I'm not sure I should use the "tackling toddlers technique" when it's only 50 degrees out.
The next few months will be interesting as the temperatures change--and vacillate--frequently. I'm not sure what my strategy will be, but if you see a tantruming toddler wearing a jacket, you'll know which tactic I chose.
What is your strategy for dealing with weather-related clothing issues?
Vote on which method makes me a Good Mom or Bad Mom in the newly designed poll here!
There I was, with my long sleeved shirt, jacket and jeans, while she ran around in her dress and leggings. Up and down she went but no matter how cold her hands were, she refused to put her jacket on until we left the park, exhausted.
In general, I trust my children to tell me when they're hot or cold and I try not to force them to wear extra gear. Monkey usually choses to wear clothes appropriate for the temperature outdoors. Munchkin is a different story. Ever since she sprinted around the swimming pool locker room naked while Monkey chattered under a towel, I've noticed she's a bit more hot-blooded. (Or hardheaded? The jury is still out.) This morning, her hands were cold but even as I tried to warm them up, she shrugged me off to climb on up the jungle gym.
I don't have too much shame about being the mother who lets her kid wear mismatched clothes and run barefoot at the park (Munchkin is Houdini-like with her ability to remove shoes at Hussain Bolt-speeds), but Munchkin's propensity to remove outer layers makes me a little uncomfortable for a few reasons: 1) I think that if I'm cold, then she must be cold too, but since my lovely mother gets cold about 10 degrees before I do, I've started to doubt myself and that logic. 2) She's actually cold. Sometimes her hands are cold so I know she must be feeling chilly. 3) I don't want to be that mother screaming, "Put your jacket on, I'm freezing!!" while chasing after my kid with her jacket. Don't get me wrong, if it's below freezing, I'll tackle Munchkin to get that jacket on her, but I'm not sure I should use the "tackling toddlers technique" when it's only 50 degrees out.
The next few months will be interesting as the temperatures change--and vacillate--frequently. I'm not sure what my strategy will be, but if you see a tantruming toddler wearing a jacket, you'll know which tactic I chose.
What is your strategy for dealing with weather-related clothing issues?
Vote on which method makes me a Good Mom or Bad Mom in the newly designed poll here!
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