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Winter Equations

Posted by Pam Stein on Dec. 8, 2009

school, winter, shopping

I’m a bad mother. No, that’s not it; I’m a neglectful mother. No, that’s not it either; I’m a forgetful mother. Yes! That’s it; I’m a forgetful mother. That is myself and every other forgetful parent at Target in Grafton on Monday night. The flurries outside couldn’t compare to the blizzard of activity that was taking place in the shoe department.

I’ve lived in Wisconsin all of my life. Okay, except for when I was in school but even then, I lived in Michigan. It snows there too. I should know better. It’s all summed up in two very simple winter equations.

Wisconsin + December = snow
Snow + kids playing in the snow = the need for boots

How could I forget? How could I not have bought boots for Monkey? But I did forget. I’ve never forgotten them before but this year . . . oh well.

My Mom was always prepared. She always remembered those two simple winter equations. My heavy rubber, nylon and fleece purple boots that weighted something like twenty pounds each were always there for me when I needed them. They were there along with my purple Eskimo style parka from Sears. Come on, you remember them. Purple parkas were for girls and the blue parkas were for boys. Buttons covered the zipper and the huge hood was trimmed in fake fur. And of course there was the penholder on the sleeve, just in case you needed to write a note to Nanook of the North on your way home from school. My winter wardrobe (the Purple People Eater Eskimo outfit) was always ready by the first snowfall.

Even though she hasn’t had to dress me for winter in, well . . . many years, I have to thank my Mom for remembering these two simple winter equations. It’s almost like she knew that I would forget them. Mother’s intuition, I guess. Besides boots, what else did I forget? Snowpants; a staple in every kid’s winter wardrobe. Thanks Mom for buying snowpants for your Grandmonkey.

Well after plowing through the crowds in the shoe department at Target, Monkey did come home with a pair of boots. Lightweight rubber, nylon and fleece black boots with purple flowers that weigh something like two pounds each. Snowpants, boots, a parka, and mittens make for a happy Monkey. She’s excited to play in the snow.

Wisconsin + December = snow

Snow that should be falling right about now. Snow that may create the first “snow day” of the school year. Snow that creates another winter equation.

Snow + kids playing in the snow = fun