I am a much better parent in the spring

Originally published on DC Metro Moms, 1/22/10:

Yeah, I said it.  I am a sucky wintertime parent.  In the spring?  Oh, you should see me in action.  Last spring had me toting around the two youngest kids in the double stroller, heading to playgrounds, the library, and play groups.  My kids were active and happy, and we got fresh air like it was going out of style.  By the end of many days, our yard appeared well used, with toys strewn about and even a play tent making frequent appearances.  The bottles of sunscreen were emptied at a healthy pace, keeping our fair skin burn-free, but still benefiting from a little vitamin D in the process.  The noise levels that two young children can produce weren't even an issue when we spent so much time outdoors.  Yay for non-medicinal headache relief!

But now we're stuck in the coldness of the winter, that even a few days of 40 or 50 degree temperatures cannot fully undo.  Whereas Springtime Mommy wants to get the kids dressed and outside in the morning sun, Wintertime Mommy desires nothing more than to close the blinds tighter and curl up under a multitude of blankets.  Sure, you kids can snuggle, but shhhh!  Wintertime Mommy believes in quiet and calm, books read by the fire, and warm baked goods to munch on.  Since a two and three year old can only take so many minutes of reading books, gazing at the fire, and stuffing their faces with banana bread, Wintertime Mommy finds her desired hibernation interrupted by the needs of the pesky little cubs.

Sure, sure, perhaps the factors of Wintertime Mommy's diet (abhorrent) and exercise regime (nonexistent) come into play with her motivation to get up from the couch.  But you know what?  Springtime Mommy ain't hitting the gym and bypassing the cookie jar all that differently either.  It just seems that Springtime Mommy benefits from the natural world's wonders a heck of a lot more than Wintertime Mommy.  Yes, the sun shining on a blanket of newly fallen snow is a beautiful sight, but that only lasts so long.  What sticks around much, much longer are the frozen solid piles of blackened snow on every corner, making it virtually impossible to push a stroller down a city sidewalk.  Wintertime Mommy would much prefer that everyone be content with quiet, indoor play involving cooperation, quiet voices, cleaning up one activity before moving on to another, and... um... how about a little quiet?

As selfish as she would like to be, Wintertime Mommy isn't a complete dolt.  Even Wintertime Mommy remembers her early childhood education background, so she knows that her young ones don't crave hibernation like she does.  What they want is to run, yell, jump, scream, climb, shout, and move their bodies in a way that isn't always compatible with being indoors.  So, Wintertime Mommy zips up her coat, wraps the scarf warmly, and dons the hat that turns her fine, straight hair into a static electricity demonstration, hoping for a side benefit of noise reduction to go along with the flyaway hairs.  Springtime Mommy may have a wider smile on her face, but Wintertime Mommy at least makes a little effort, even if she dreams of books and hot cocoa while she pushes the swings.

This is an original DC Metro Moms post. 

Dawn blogs nonsense about her family at my thoughts exactly, and tries to sound intelligent when she reviews books at 5 Minutes for Books.