For the first time ever in my life... living in the mid-west for winter has been really challenging. I have never really minded the cold or snow, I just look the other way and power through. But this winter the weather has me down! Pair that with crabby and cooped up kids and their bickering and the Sponge Bob is enough to put me over the edge.
I've forced myself to list out some things (coping mechanisms, if you will) to help me stay away from the crazies.
- email a friend to see how they are doing and what's new with them. As a mom I am usually too busy for the phone (or my kids are too loud). But sitting down and composing an email inquiring about how a friend is doing gets me out of my own head and into the full of humanity. We all have lives, mine isn't the most dramatic or forlorn. (My life isn't really dramatic or forlorn at all, but when I stew... it becomes so).
- paint my nails. I don't know why, but this always makes me feel better. Plus I have an excuse to not serve ANOTHER glass of milk or ANOTHER snack to the kids for at least 30 minutes (my kids seem to want snacks like every 15 minutes) - my nails are drying!
- go to the bathroom and shut the door. Cry if needed. Sometimes just a door between me and the kids where I can take a deep breath and think rationally is all I need. Crying helps, what can I say, I'm a girl. (If this sounds crazy to you, you likely don't have kids or you have a nanny or you are super woman)
- organize something. This is my way of controlling the situation (me and my shrink are aware of this problem - ha!). But it is more productive than crying or yelling and again, focuses my attention outside of my head.
- do the dishes. When our dishwasher first broke I was a little bitter. But now I feel like there is something zen about doing the dishes - warm water, bubbles... it's almost like a bubble bath (now we know I am for sure crazy!). And also it gets me out of the "I NEED MILK!" demands from the kids... sorry, I say... my hands are all wet! This by no means should be a reason to not replace the dishwasher though.
- read. Reading is my escape, a lot of people ask how I have time to devour a book in three days (or less, sometimes!) and I just make time for it. It's a great escape for me and I can squeeze in a minute here and there as my schedule (or the kids) allow.
- blast some music. This works equally well for me and the kids... as the gals on Grey's Anatomy always say... "Just dance it out!"
- Lastly, and most importantly, wear a leopard print scarf.
What are your coping mechanisms for the long crazy days of winter?
ps, snow anyone?
Details:
Scarf, courtesy of KUTE clothes
Jacket, courtesy of
Tulle - it's on sale!
Sweater, JCrew (
similar)
Jeans, Gap (
similar)
Boots, Nine West (
similar)
Sunglasses, Forever 21 (
similar)
