Here’s how I rocked it this morning while dressing up to drive my daughter to school:
With wind chill, it was -25 below zero, so we were dressed in MANY layers. My daughter shared that her teacher talked about how to dress in the arctic, so she willingly layered on snowpants, boots, hat, mittens, and let me wrap a big scarf around her face, so just her eyes were showing too. I broke out my long underwear and even layered a tight fitting beanie hat under my balaclava. I’ve lost all sense of style (but I AM smiling with my eyes. Can’t you tell? Thanks to watching America’s Next Top Model, I know that’s a thing.), but I don’t care! I was warm and set a good example for my kids! Some other parents weren’t even wearing a hat when dropping their kids off – one of those “Do as I say, not as I do” moments. (DISCLAIMER – I have those moments as a parent too – just not today.)
Since frigid weather is a reality, and school only closes when it’s -35 below zero wind chills (I think), you simply have to do as I do in a polar vortex. Layer, layer, layer to keep warm! I even threw a fleece blanket over my son in the car to keep him extra warm.
With such advice, I truly feel like I have become my mother! I can hear her saying, “It’s not a fashion show,” when we dressed practically – not fashionably in winters past. I remember one winter blizzard when I was a kid, and my mom ended up walking to our school to walk us home because the roads were so treacherous. We Sconnies (residents of Wisconsin) have to be hearty with such winters!
Over the years I have learned to suck it up, dress warm, and just go about what you need to get done that day. For example, after dropping off my daughter, I took my son grocery shopping, then stopped at Target to get some warm beverages from Starbucks and do some shopping. Screw you polar vortex – we’re not sitting at home waiting for it to warm up (partly because it WON’T today…or for a few days anyway until it hits a balmy 20 degrees).
Daddy O. does as I do in cold weather as well, saying often in winter, “There’s no such thing as bad weather – only inappropriate clothing.” For this reason, we’ve taking up snowshoeing as a winter hobby to take advantage of the snow when we can! Here were some shots of us snowshoeing back in 2013.
How do you brave the cold weather? Stay warm and share your thoughts below!
go mama o. 
Reblogged this on go mama o and commented:
Just over a year ago today we were in the Polar Vortex! I found myself wearing the same gray balaclava this morning as we faced -10 windchill readings. Still I dropped my kids off at school and ran a few errands. Everyday life goes on no matter the temperature! I am happy to be inside, relaxing a bit with a cup of chai tea. As we often tell ourselves on such frigid days, well, at least it is sunny outside! Have a great day!