The Rest of Winter

So, we're right in the middle of winter now. Christmas is gone, and these cold days can start to feel less joyful than they were when the glow of the tree was warming everyone's spirits. It's hard to be on top of each other all the time, too, especially when the kids just want to run around and have all the fun. It can feel like a slog, but if we look at it instead as a season of rest, maybe the slow, cold winter won't seem so dreary. 

One thing I like to say every year is that it's still important to get outside every day, even when it's “bad” weather. Sometimes that's just for a few minutes, but touching grass (even if it's covered in snow!) is a big thing to us. Keeps that circadian clock ticking, reconnects us with nature, and just gives a quick reset. Many days it's brief, but still important. 

Next, it's great to have traditions that you only do in the winter so you're all looking forward to them. An example for us is building a lot of forts. The kids get very elaborate with it! Also, we watch more shows and movies with the kids in the winter than the summer. We're not just plopping them in front of something to keep them occupied, but enjoying it with them. We talk about funny parts, the plot, the characters, etc. It becomes an event, like going to the movies in our house! Other examples could be pizza nights, at-home-beauty parlor, arts and crafts, reading the same book together, puzzles, and so much more. 

These fun winter routines inside make the season feel like its own special time instead of just something to muscle through. The “rest” of winter in nature leads to new growth in the spring. We don't necessarily hibernate or go dormant like bears and flowers, but we see the wisdom in what nature naturally does. This perspective shift can help us appreciate the pace in our homes during the season. Whatever your winter traditions are, I hope you enjoy them and get some well-deserved rest while doing them.