Cold is as cold does
on May 08 in General by DanI’m fairly notorious within my family for not feeling the cold. In the winter I wear a summer jacket, and in the summer I’m generally found in shirt sleeves. I’m sure my hardiness is partly down my thick blubbery layers of fat keeping me warm, but I’m also convinced that it’s a largely a psychological issue. If you are constantly monitoring your temperature and what your nerve endings are telling you then you’ll become fixated on how cold you feel and consequently feel much worse.
Of course I’m not advocating attempting to navigate to the South Pole wearing Bermuda shorts and a T-shirt. You’d need a woolly hat and a pair of thermal socks at the very least I’d think. But in a bland temperate climate like England’s there are very few days in my opinion when you need much more than a jumper, a waterproof coat, and a stubborn refusal to allow a few numbers on a thermometer disrupt your plans.
I’m proud to say that my children appear to have inherited my thermal fortitude. Although at times Amy does take the whole thing a little too far. Every morning we have a running battle over the appropriateness of what she wants to wear; usually a summer dress and socks. She is resistant to all attempts at negotiation and compromise, feeling that to accept tights instead of socks is tantamount to agreeing to wear full Eskimo garb and crawling inside the belly of a Tauntaun (speaking of which, have you seen this? I want one).
Evan on the other hand is much more rational in his clothing demands. He simply finds it impossible to comprehend why he can’t just walk around in pyjamas all day. Particularly if they are his favourite pair with George from Peppa Pig on them. Occasionally he can be tempted to get dressed by wafting his Batman or Thomas the Tank Engine t-shirt in front of his face. But more often than not it’s a case of sticking his shoes on my ears or some other such tomfoolery, and then quickly getting him changed while he’s distracted by his internal monologue about how much he hopes he’s been adopted.
Amy however is made of sterner stuff. She accepted that she probably wasn’t adopted a long time ago, and has resigned herself to going through the process of divorcing her parents just as soon as she’s old enough to get to the solicitors office on the bus on her own. No pencils up the nose or underpants on the head is going to distract her from the horrible truth that her parents cruelly and maliciously want to prevent her from catching hypothermia.
So the battles continue each and every morning. Sometimes one side gains an advantage, and sometimes the other. But the war continues afresh the next day with renewed vigour.
Soon of course the changing of the seasons will mean that socks and summer dresses are completely appropriate clothes to wear. What’s the betting that by then she’ll be insisting on wearing a scarf and gloves to school.
Related posts:
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- We need to employ a washerwoman
- …with all the frills upon it
- Signs of a deprived childhood
- A cold December morning
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After becoming somewhat acclimatized to the local desert weather, I’m always bloody freezing whenever I go back to England to see my family. When I lived there though, I rarely wore a coat.
Kevin Spencers last blog post..Phoenix Pizza Recommendation
I have a little warrior too. Refusing to accept my advice of a coat, or hoody. That is, until he steps outside and the wind near knocks him over.
SingleParentDads last blog post..Horatio (not Nelson) in the House
I once heard of a kid that grew up in the wild which a while after it was found walked naked in the snow and didn’t flinch but just jumping around merrily like it was summertime.
Arjans last blog post..A ‘Lee’ on my wall
I have a fleece, a rather nice one that has been on and off my person so many times this week that it is almost a thread. The sun comes out, I’m sweating cobs, the sun goes in, I’m freezing, and that’s just indoors!
We have a constant battle over the thermostat in the hallway. He sets it at 19, I prefer 21. I will compromise at 20 though, but oh no, every time I pass it is back at 19 – infact 18 yesterday.
I sympathise with the dressing of children. Mine think they can wear football tops all year round – without vests!
gails last blog post..Amazing Real Photos
I am a southern californian transplanted to New England. I am rarely warm, even in the summer. (It was 70 today and right now am wearing wool socks to bed) I always keep a jacket with me at all times. Sweaters. A fleece in the car. Always. Just because I know I will always get colder than I started out.
movin down the roads last blog post..Mama’s Day
Hearty New Englander here. I go swimming on New Years Day and I’ll wear shorts in February if it’s not too bitter and I am not going to be outside for long periods of time.
I still am a Dad however and I constantly find myself prodding my kids to put a sweatshirt or jacket on. They are usually pretty quick to remind me that I am not dressed warm enough either. I can appreciate your battles COMPLETELY!
PGs last blog post..Is That A Camel In Your Pocket, Or Are You… (99/365 v2.0)
Kevin – Sounds like your thermostat needs resetting.
SingleParentDad – amy can have blue lips and be shivering but she’ll still refuse to go near a jumper.
Arjan – You shure that’s not golum from lord of the rings and you’re getting it mixed up?
Gail – I’d put it to 2 and then superglue it in place.
Movin down the road – Wimp
PG – There’s nothing like a bit of parental hypocrisy is there.
..pretty sure..
although gollum díd do a good happy dance.
As a former California kid, I have a hard time not going barefoot. I take my shoes off whenever possible. My 14-month-old has the same habit. Which is unfortunate for both of us, since we live in the Southern United States now, where going barefoot looks less “beachy” and more “hayseed.”
Also, the Tauntaun sleeping bag? Genius. You and my hubs are kindred souls I’d say.
Erins last blog post..I should be a writer for Lost
Arjan – His hair looked a bit like yours too. just a bit mind you.
Erin – Could you not paint your feel to look like shoes?
That’s a great idea, actually. Like those swimsuit models who paint their nipples and call it a bikini. Only with feet.
Erins last blog post..In which Bill Murray makes 2 appearances in a post about depression. 3 if you count Scrooged, which is incidentally a known cause of depression