What Now?

I should be used to this, I suppose. I have lived in the Midwest for fourteen years now. But I did grow up in the Rocky Mountains, where winter was winter, and winter happened all winter long. It got old, yes, but you could count on it. Winter was reliable. But the Midwest here has some serious Season Confusion going on. All the time. We sit at about half way through February, and I'm tired of it, I tell you.

What? You don't think that's worth complaining about? Shouldn't it be nice to have three 60+ degree days in a row? Should I not simply consider them a break from the winter monotony and be grateful for the bonus? Well, yes. I suppose I shouldn't complain. But let me whine for a moment; hear me out. See, I never know what's coming. Or how to dress my kids. Or what activities to count on. This weather is totally throwing off my groove.

For example: we had two days in January that were above 70 degrees. We also had several days that were single digit; one even -20 with the wind chill! Our heating bill was through the roof last month (literally, I'm afraid), but my kids still wanted to go barefoot and wander around in short-sleeved t-shirts...just in case.

When the season thinks it's Spring, my children play outside for as long as they can stand it or until it's too dark to see any more or -Heaven forbid - I call them in so I can feed them. And oh! the mud! I despise mud. When it acts like the Winter it ought to be (you know, cold?), they huddle around the vents under blankets, dramatically chattering their teeth and declaring "I'm freezing, Mom!" As though I were responsible. As though our entire stockpile of undershirts, sweaters, hoodies, jackets, sweatshirts, coats, slippers and warm fuzzy socks doesn't even exist.

My children are going to need Season Identification Therapy when they grow up. I just know it. Yesterday, it was mild and lovely. I even took George outside sans jacket, it was so balmy. Same thing the day before. And the three days before that. This morning, it's doing that nasty "winter mix", you know: the snowy-sleeting-rainish thing? I stood at the window and counted no less than four pairs of footwear that were left out in the yard (shed during the we-think-it-be-spring spree of the last several days). I stood watching as they were gently buried by precipitation. I think I will send one of my little barefooted knaves out to fetch them, just because I'm spiteful like that. And I think I see a purple jacket.

Here are the bundled people playing in the snow and ice...as it should be, right?

Here are pictures of the sheets of ice Lucy and her friend across the street gleaned from our yard. That was just a couple of weeks ago.

Here are pictures of the sun shining on the ice

and melting it rapidly, because - of course - Winter thinks it's Spring.

Did I mention the mud?