You are SO right about the parades. We raised our kids in a small town in Illinois and they were always in the parades for something or another. July 4th parade, the Homecoming parade and then the Christmas Parade. The most important part as a parent was that your kids SAW you! LOL
I read your newsletters regularly, and have for years. And EVERY time, I wonder: Is this what most people’s lives are like, and they just don’t tell the stories well? Or is the Breakwell family next level?! Enquiring minds want to know… (FWIW, while I can relate to many of the anecdotes, we aren’t terribly social, so miss out on a lot of that type of activity.)
Avoiding social situations likely saves you for most of these stories happening to you. The more you invite people into your lives, the more you invite disaster. I wouldn't have it any other way.
Brrrr! Indiana weather is certainly unpredictable. One fall day when I was in elementary school, the weather had been more akin to June than October. So I left home in a summer dress and a sweater. It was way too hot for my wool dresses and leggings. The weather changed during the day until it was in the low 40’s. I froze on the way home.
I've announced for 20+ years at a local Christmas parade that steps off at 1:00 PM. And since it's Southern California, it could be anywhere from 55° to 75°F. Layering is key!
And 'the kids seeing us seeing them' is a spot on observation. I had sons, so I didn't get a wave of the hand. I would get the head nod as acknowledgement. LOL
Sometimes children are deliberately avoiding wearing winter coats or other warm stuff, as my siblings or I did. There were many mornings when the last thing I heard while rushing to dad's or uncle's car to be driven to JH school was my mum shouting "WHERE'S YOUR SCARF!". At the time they made me feel uncomfortable and itchy, so I tried to minimise the need to go outside. Fortunately, I never got sick in the Winter. There was a time my brother did something similar to Betsy & co. He claimed he was feeling warm, so it was common to see him wearing light clothes during winter, which spanned for few years. One time however he went to school in just t-shirt and shorts, when outside it was negative few degrees Celsius. That day he had health talks with not only our parents, but also his class teacher and school nurse. He defended his outfit saying he felt warm & fashionable and started putting warmer clothes only under threat of grounding and lowering grades for behaviour.
In college, I had a roommate who was like your brother. He wore shorts and a t-shirt year-round, even when there was snow on the ground. One morning, when the temperature was below zero, I saw him put his hands in his pockets. That was the only sign he ever gave that he was cold.
You are SO right about the parades. We raised our kids in a small town in Illinois and they were always in the parades for something or another. July 4th parade, the Homecoming parade and then the Christmas Parade. The most important part as a parent was that your kids SAW you! LOL
It's backwards, and yet, it makes complete sense. Children change your whole perspective on everything.
I read your newsletters regularly, and have for years. And EVERY time, I wonder: Is this what most people’s lives are like, and they just don’t tell the stories well? Or is the Breakwell family next level?! Enquiring minds want to know… (FWIW, while I can relate to many of the anecdotes, we aren’t terribly social, so miss out on a lot of that type of activity.)
Avoiding social situations likely saves you for most of these stories happening to you. The more you invite people into your lives, the more you invite disaster. I wouldn't have it any other way.
”kids seeing us seeing them” is important!
Absolutely. If I saw them and they didn't see us, it wouldn't have counted at all.
I read "hosting engagement" as"hostile engagement." 🤔 That could be accurate in some circumstances... YMMV
It sometimes our board games turn into that. I'm not always a gracious loser.
Brrrr! Indiana weather is certainly unpredictable. One fall day when I was in elementary school, the weather had been more akin to June than October. So I left home in a summer dress and a sweater. It was way too hot for my wool dresses and leggings. The weather changed during the day until it was in the low 40’s. I froze on the way home.
Classic Indiana. You basically need to carry clothing for all four seasons with you at all times.
I've announced for 20+ years at a local Christmas parade that steps off at 1:00 PM. And since it's Southern California, it could be anywhere from 55° to 75°F. Layering is key!
And 'the kids seeing us seeing them' is a spot on observation. I had sons, so I didn't get a wave of the hand. I would get the head nod as acknowledgement. LOL
Nothing wrong with a super cool head nod. Personally, I'm partial to little kids waving so hard. Their arms almost fall off.
Sometimes children are deliberately avoiding wearing winter coats or other warm stuff, as my siblings or I did. There were many mornings when the last thing I heard while rushing to dad's or uncle's car to be driven to JH school was my mum shouting "WHERE'S YOUR SCARF!". At the time they made me feel uncomfortable and itchy, so I tried to minimise the need to go outside. Fortunately, I never got sick in the Winter. There was a time my brother did something similar to Betsy & co. He claimed he was feeling warm, so it was common to see him wearing light clothes during winter, which spanned for few years. One time however he went to school in just t-shirt and shorts, when outside it was negative few degrees Celsius. That day he had health talks with not only our parents, but also his class teacher and school nurse. He defended his outfit saying he felt warm & fashionable and started putting warmer clothes only under threat of grounding and lowering grades for behaviour.
In college, I had a roommate who was like your brother. He wore shorts and a t-shirt year-round, even when there was snow on the ground. One morning, when the temperature was below zero, I saw him put his hands in his pockets. That was the only sign he ever gave that he was cold.