Friday January 14, 2011
Winter is here. I can tell. My brain is dead. Things feel listless and lifeless. The world is nearly monochromatic. I take that back. There is the grey of gravel and pavement and the sky and the drab, lifeless greyish, green brown of tree trunks and grass and shrubs. When the sun shines, it looks cold. When the sun doesn’t shine, it looks even colder.
Going out means wearing enough clothes to make a small child feel five pounds heavier. Staying in means throwing more wood on the fire and trying to keep your feet warm.
In early November I resolved that this year, I would learn to enjoy winter. Not just tolerate it. Celebrate it. I would notice the beauty of snowflakes. I would revel in small delights like hot chocolate and story time. I would count the days and realize that it is only two more months til the weather begins to warm up a little and I would rationally think to myself, “this is not so bad.”
And then it actually turned into winter. And I cannot find the beauty. When the leaves dropped this fall, I counted months for the first time ever and realized that we live without leaves and green for just over six months of the year. Is it any wonder that looking outside is depressing? I started looking for tiny snippets of color along the school route. The main thing I found was a green real estate sign and yellow curvy road caution signs. Ah, art does add so much to my life.
What do you LIKE about winter? Seriously. Snow does not count. This is one of our barren years. (Not that I actually mind after being snowed in for way too long last year.)
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How well do you speak toddlerese? Liam lacks consonants as badly as I lack joyfulness about winter. The other day I stopped and listened to him. Really listened instead of just instantly interpreting his words in my head. He sounds hillarious! He is expressive enough to make up for everything he doesn’t say and I don’t get stuck very often. Only because I talk to him all day. And when I get stuck, I can ask Adam. 
Two of his most common phrases:
“Dat make me deel doe ‘appy.” (That makes me feel so happy — comes in response to anything I answer yes, too, even something as simple as “yes, you may have milk.”)
“Me may eat dat?” No. “Dat make me dick?” Yes. “My dummy i not dong enough.” (I may eat that? … That will make me sick? … My tummy is not strong enough?) or “Me nont die ‘ill bit dees.” (I want to try a little bit of cheese … and yes, I’ve started cheating and giving him a bite or two here and there. It worked til I gave him half a piece at dinner one night AND half a piece at lunch the next day. He cried out with that horrible shrieky cry three times during his nap and finally called me frantically saying “my dummy ‘urts.” So we’re being good again.)
I love the way he says, “danks” (thanks) after everything for even the simplest things. It’s not something I remember teaching him; he’s just a grateful child. But the best part is hearing him tell stories. Here is the latest story by Liam. This one was traumatic enough in real life to give him a nightmare during his nap. Can you figure out what happened?
“Mommy pi Do-di up. Mommy ba dow nil. Mommy died and died. Den Mommy bin. Den Mommy died and died. Den me otch in nindoe. Den mommy died and died. Den Mommy made it.
Whew! That gives your brain a work out trying to figure that out. 🙂 So..you went to pick daddy up, backed down hill and you tried and tried? Then you spin and tried again. He’s watching in the window, you tried again and then made it??? 🙂 Too cute.
I don’t know that I have a favorite part of winter. Well, maybe the fact that I don’t have to feel guilty about not being outside, hanging out my wash, or working in the garden. I’m SO TIRED OF BEING COLD!! Ok, got that out of me. 🙂
Have you thought of getting a therapy light? It helps you get more of the sunlight you need. I have one and it’s helped a lot!
aw! little Liam! what a cutie!
winter? i love the opportunity to dress in layers, the chance to wear boots!!!! the excuse to burrow down in the house, the constant drinking of coffee and other hot beverages…but, i do NOT like the production it is to get everyone into warm clothes to get out of the house! it can certainly be a personality difference, but i find the older i get, the more i enjoy about winter…..
But!! have you noticed that the days are already getting longer?! take heart dear friend…winter will not last forever!
♥~r
I have never been a fan of winter. Even as a girl, I didn’t last very long outside on snowy days. I just hate being cold & wet! When I was a teenager, my brother tried [in vain] to get me interested in skiing—I loved to do anything fast & slightly dangerous, but because skiing must be done in snow, I was not one bit tempted. Now I have boys who LOVE to be out in the snow, and they beg me to build snow forts & have snowball battles & go sledding with them……..and I groan. 🙁 They’re lucky to get me out in it for one good romp per year!
The problem is, I married a man who LOVES winter. He’s like a kid when the first snowflakes of the year begin to fly! I don’t get it at all. Another problem is that he moved me NORTH, just outside the infamous lake-effect snow belt. I’ve seen more snow here in one winter than I had seen in my whole pre-married life!
A couple of years ago, I realized that my hatred of winter was poisoning my entire family. Something needed to give! I still don’t go out & frolic in the snow…I still am not tempted to ski…and I stay indoors as much as possible. BUT, I’m learning to be grateful for EACH day. I REVEL in the rare moments of sunshine, even standing barefoot on the porch to soak it in. I take the camera out & capture beauty rather than glaring at the snow. I pull the curtains back as far as they will go to let in as much natural light as possible. When I have to go out, I take deep breaths of the invigoratingly frigid air, and imagine it pouring vitality into my body. I work on indoor projects that I never have time to do in the summer months. I set goals for myself to keep me from getting bored. I spoil myself (and the children!) a little bit with movies and games and “lazy” days sometimes.
I still don’t love winter. I doubt I ever will. But ACCEPTING it—with all its imperfections!—has made all the difference in the world. THANK GOD, winter is NOT forever!!!
Oh, and one more thing: this fall, I started taking liquid Vitamin D for the first time. It has made a gigantic difference, just ask my husband!
PS ~ Remind me to come back & read this in about 6 weeks…………… 🙁
gray has been a great new fun color this year. at least when it comes to clothes! and i noticed that you wear it well. 🙂
but gray is heavy and sad and too too much when it comes to seasons, the color of the sky and how it all affects my moods. moods. plural. because i have so many! 😉 i do like boots and hot drinks and…and… and… see? my list is kinda short!
liam is dear. and i always enjoy what you share about your kids! it is a SuNnY spot for me in this gray day. you are too actually! jake told me my legs are chubby and that the shirt i was trying on made him feel like throwing up. hahaha sigh.
Liam’s talking is so cute, but I do MUCH better when you interpret it. I don’t know what that last little story is about other than I think you were crying and crying! Hope it wasn’t too serious! ;-(
I also do not like winter. I don’t know that I really get depressed about it, I just don’t like it much.
And yes, everything is SO grey and brown and drab. Sometimes I don’t even realize HOW drab it is until I look at a summer picture or something.
I don’t mind winter, but I am not sure what I LIKE about it. 🙂 Not too helpful. I do like that in the winter my husband has steady work. I like the slower schedule in the winter months too. I like the peace in my house with most of my children in school. I love Christmas, always did. Do those things count?? Am glad you understand Liam because I don’t. =)
Maybe my lack of productivity has something to do with the weather…
the thing i love most about winter? it is IMPOSSIBLE for it to last forever. it will end. someday.
i also enjoy a front row to my children’s play. when the weather is warm, they spend hours and hours outside. so i get the biggest kick out of watching them play, using their imagination, and having lots of fun inside.
but winter is brutal. no two ways about it.
liam is a sweetheart!
liam’s story…so cute. the only thing I thought I could figure out was that mommy cried and cried??
About winter. I grew up loving snow because it was so RARE and FUN when it came! South Carolina. But, now that it snows like old hat around here and stays so loooong around here. But, snow doesn’t count on here anyway. Probably the thing I like the best it that there isn’t so much pressure to stay caught up with outside work. I don’t have a green thumb and when we bought this place it came with a lot of upkeep outside. It’s not my first love, especially when I have what feels like so many other things that need to be done! So, yeah a more relaxed schedule with longer evenings to enjoy family/hubby time!
I was thinking cried and cried too, but then Amber seems to have nailed it with the backing down the hill, and mommy trying and tryin??? How ever to you decipher his words? He sounds like such a little sweetheart.
winter. i dunno. it seems to have gone by faster other years then it is doing this year. Right now it looks kinda long and cold to me. i’m already tired of running the heat, altho the other option doesn’t sound so good either, and the cold is just COLD this year. What I AM loving is all the time to get random things done around the house. My heart is happy whenever I open one of my newly organized cupboards, so that’s a plus. I hope to get caught up on a BUNCH of scrapbooking yet this winter. I would say that is the main cool thing that i like about winter–all the down-time to get stuff done. And the cozy days indoors, where you don’t feel like you have to go out and do stuff. love it.
You asked what do we like about winter? Seriously I do like winter. I like the fireplace in our living room when we use it. I like the time spent with friends on the weekends playing games around the table. I like the slower pace of winter. I have chosen Jan-Feb as my months to do photo albums so I enjoy the time of reflection. I enjoy the quietness once the children are in school – it gives me more time to journal and have my devotions-more time connect with God. There are things I hate about winter. Number one being lack of snow, and as I get older I hate being cold. 🙂
Your boys are adorable!
What I love about winter? I love that I can go outside without dripping sweat just walking to the car. I love that I can turn off the air conditioner and open my windows. I love that I can plant flowers without scorching them. Ok, you can shoot me now.
Love Liam’s two year old words, sounds almost identical to Kamryn’s. 🙂 Such sweet jabberings.
Winter. Hmm…it’s a stretch for me to love winter. I’ve been trying. I like the days when I can stay in and do wintery things like play games & do puzzles with my girls. Then we get the cabin fever and then if ONLY we could get out. 🙂 I do like the freshness the snow gives. BUT I am not a wintery person. I do so love spring. 😉
I know. And I don’t have to remind you that your winter is shorter than my winter, do I? But I do love the long, cozy evenings, the projects that are only for winter, and the lack of outside work……’bout March I do go crazy, however. Check back with me then.
What I love about winter, is the blue blue sky and the clear cool air, even tho it gets old putting on layers and layers of clothes. I also like the long evenings, playing games with the girls, drinking lots of coffee. I like not having to keep the outside mowed and trimmed and the garden looking nice and just plain taking a break and being able to catch up with house stuff, cleaning out drawers etc.. One thing that has helped me alot is to light candles, play music and to have string lights through out the house, it helps set the mood:) Having a positive outlook on life, thinking positive thoughts, spending time in God’s Word. Going out with friends for coffee and having tea parties are also good ways to help with the winter blue’s. And of course spending lots of evening time with my honey:) When March rolls around I realize how much I am ready for spring..So sorry you don’t enjoy winter:)
I love winter, but my reason for it shows my um…craziness maybe. I hate bugs–of every kind, and I especially hate them in the house, and I make everyone stressed out during spring and summer by keeping floors and counters spotless so the ants won’t find a reason to invade. During the winter, I can relax. See, I told you I was crazy. I also love snuggling in fleece blankets and drinking coffee and reading–all at the same time even! I use my oven way more often in the winter to bake because I don’t mind then that it warms the house up. I stay home much more in the winter, which means I don’t spend nearly as much money on stuff I (mostly) don’t need. I could probably go on, but I’ll stop there. I’m sorry that you are not enjoying winter. I hope you are able to spot some color soon.
I am so with you on the winter business. I told my husband in the middle of the night when I couldn’t sleep that I feel depression creeping up on me again, and I don’t know how to stop it. I think the thing I like most about winter is Dec. 22, when I know the days are getting longer again! Somehow, just knowing that helps me keep hope.
I am especially panicking right now because I suspect we have bedbugs. I kid you not. Not that that has anything especially to do with winter.
I love your Liam stories. I think his last story is something about you picking someone up, and trying to back down a hill, and trying and trying and he was watching from the window, and finally you made it.
is Liam two? him saying Thanks for even little things is so much Eden, too. That is the age i just can’t get enough of. I have always been crazy about 1.5 to 3 yrs. But especially with Eden. He’s adorable. but i really did think he was talking about someone dieing!
sorry about your monochramatic winter. but not very. Because spring will come to you oh, about 2 months before it hits me!!!
i have finally made up to Winter here. somehow i just realized that if you dress warm enough…it’s not so bad! and i really think the sun might shine here more than in the Southern winter. at least i remember KY being very very dreary in January…
@down_onthefarm – cindy-the shirt made him want to throw up? crack me up.
Aleiyah told me it looks like i have a baby in my belly AND she said that if we ever got a divorce she would def want to live with Dad!!! no more b-day parties for HER.:)
@Carsonsmom2 –
Good job on interpreting! I have a hard enough time figure out when he’s saying hill without trying to read it. And ME TOO on the I’m so tired of being cold theme.
@NightCometh –
I haven’t. Maybe I should check them out. I know that I dealt with this much, much more at our other house because it was so much darker. Maybe even more light would help.
@itsayoderworld –
I have faithfully swallowed Vitamin D gelcaps since October and it is so not helping. 🙁 I agree, Thank God winter is not forever.
@down_onthefarm –
Jake is hillarious! Did you tell him to carry a bucket with him?
@damys –
I’m sure blaming it around here. 😉 I act like the energizer bunny when it turns warm and sunny in the Spring. 🙂
@mlt10202002 –
Wait. Say that again. Your kids spend hours and hours outside? Please have them come teach mine. I am lucky. Very lucky in the beginning of Spring when they will go out for an hour and a half. But by July, I can hardly bribe Adam into going outside except when I take him out to swim.
@indehecka –
I won’t shoot you; but can I please come visit? 🙂
@smuckers4jesus –
Yeah, I’m sorry, too. You almost make it sound fun. Maybe in ten years you’ll convince me. 🙂
@leasejw –
Your bug aversion made me smile. 🙂 I’m not a big baking person but fall and winter does get me in the mood to do that. There is something so fun and cozy about smelling something baking when it’s cold outside.
@lazonya75 –
Yes, yes, YES a thousand times yes. “I feel the depression creeping up on me again, and I don’t know how to stop it.” This describes me perfectly. I get so frustrated b/c every summer I say, I can do it this winter. And when winter comes, all rational thought leaves. And too funny b/c I almost circled the calender on December 22. 🙂 I’ve decided it’s God’s way of giving us hope b/c the days start getting longer before winter even completely sets in (at least here it is way the worst in January and February).
@lin789 –
Yep, Liam is two. When is Eden’s birthday? You should still feel sorry for me. 😉
I had to come back and read this after I read your latest post, just to see what you were talking about! Funny little boy!! Isn’t it amazing how parents learn to understand their kids, when few other people even have any idea what they’re talking about?! I don’t think I could have interpreted that! 🙂
Winter… In the south. Gives me an opportunity to wear something other than short sleeves, which means long-sleeves, boots, leggings, sweaters, scarves, layers, hats… All of which I’m a big fan, and all of which I cannot wear except for a few months in the winter. All that said, I do not especially enjoy winter in the south. The brown and greys and lack of color really get to me. I cracked up over your “art cheering your world” because that’s about the truth in the winters!! 🙂 And yes, I do feel sorry for you. 🙂
One thing I really liked about northern winters is that is seemed as if everyone just kind of tucked up and snuggled in for the winter. Sort of like a human hibernation. Not a lot of activities, but time to scrapbook, read, have friends over to play games… Here in the south, it seems as if winter is the busiest time of the year, and I miss that “holed up” feeling of the north. I have YEARS worth of scrapbooking to do, and so far it’s been too busy… BUT sometime this winter I DO want to catch up, at least on a year or two of pictures!
I’m a fellow winter disliker. But what I do like about winter is the slower pace of life – time to scrapbook, and just sit and knit if I feel like it. I like the excuse to just stay home when it’s snowy out. I like hot drinks – tea, coffee, etc. I like barnes and noble dates. I love the Christmas season (which only helps me tolerate the first month).
Wow! When I first read your question, I didn’t think I’d be able to come up with anything I liked about winter, but. . . found a few things. Hope you find many delightful things to do these remaining dreary months.