To walk to nursery with two toddlers in the cold?

As long as they’re wrapped up warm, they’ll be fine. Walking is better for overall health and the planet, plus your children will be used to walking distances so it will be beneficial in the long run. It also gives more opportunities for exploring and talking.

I’d take some cute photos of you all bundled up together on the journey and send them to your MIL.

OK just seen that MIL comes from a country where they don't do cold weather. That might explain it then!

I think this is strange. How old is MIL? Surely when she was a child it would have been quite normal to walk just about everywhere is all weathers? I am a GM and my DM never learned to drive and we didn't have a car when I was a small child - everyone walked. We all survived.

I send my son to a nursery that keeps the kids outdoors in 90% of the weather, all day every day. I think they'll survive (and thrive) in having a decent walk to and from school/nursery whilst warmly dressed.

Obviously not the point of the thread, but why would private cars not be available to the general public in 50 years' time?

I'm baffled by the 3% who think you're being unreasonable when you're being very, very reasonable. I walked to school for years in a very cold country and it was never a problem at all.

She's being ridiculous, surely they'll be playing outside at nursery anyway?

Walking is so much healthier than driving for most children, even in cold weather.

What does she think happens to children when it snows? She must know they all rush out to build snow men and have snowball fights as soon as there's a good covering.

It's much colder to go by car because it takes ten minutes for the car to warm up and you aren't moving. I hate short car journeys in winter for this reason. By active transport you're always warm. I would use a thick sleeping bag type thing in the pram for the younger child.

As long as everyone is super cosy dressed she is being ridiculous and insulting you to get her point across is overbearing. My DS goes to an outside nursery in the north of Scotland. The kids all have wool base layers and really cosy suits on and wool balaclavas. He hasn't had so much as a cold so far.

No such thing as bad weather, just poor clothing choices - my Swedish friend 🤭

Your MIL would hate me. I have a toddler and a greyhound who needs walking whatever the weather! Toddler has a very warm snowsuit and wellies and we get on with it. It's fine.

It sounds like an element of control. She wanted to give them a lift and wasn't happy you declined. So pulled the "you're such a selfish, bad mother" card, trying to guilt trip you in to accepting her drop them off and she gets her way. Guilt tripping and manipulating you in to believing you are a terrible mother for making the poor wee souls walk.

DH needs to tell MIL to butt out

Same here. Not mandatory, but we’re outside 2-6 hours a day. We even eat outside some days. It’s dark in the afternoons but we have strong lights so it’s fine.

The pollution insude cars is worse than outside, tell her that - its far better not to ferry kids around in a car if it can be avoided

We are not UK but here it snows and is often under -10 oC in winter. It is mandatory for daycare kids to be outside at least two hours a day unless temps too severe (around -20!). . Obviously in appropriate clothing!

Definitely side with you on this one OP!

I used to walk my dc1 to school with dc2 in pram/carrier, and (delighted) dog along with us too... Through the woods, along the stream and arrive at the back gate.

Along the way I would pass another mum who set off at the same time as me, loading her kids into the large 4 wheel drive car to join the bumper to bumper queue of cars (1/4 mile away from school gate) battling for space through a congested junction.

We arrived pink cheeked and bright eyed having seen stoats, birds, paddled in puddles, picked up beautiful leaves, noticed the flower buds, marveled at the power of the stream after a big rainfall, made footprints in snow etc etc (many wholesome worthy examples 🤣). wellies all covered in mud (changed shoes at school).

Arriving simultaneously would be the other mum, no quicker for her car use... but her stunning very long hair and aspirational shoes were immaculate, her children spotless.

We each thought the other mad as a box frogs. 👀😎🤣🙃

😂 I’m in a cold country and we’re outside even when it’s -20. And they sleep outside at nursery.

Besides, they are your children so why do you care what she thinks.

Not do them button of harm to.walk somewhere long as they r dressed appropriately some people would take car to their next door neighbour if they thought they could get away with it

I'd remind your MIL that some of the healthiest babies grow up in countries where prams are placed outdoors in the fresh air for nap time, even in the snow!!

Fresh air is great for kids and less likely to get ill!! Better than stuffy cars.

Tell your MIL she is welcome to walk with you!

I always walked a similar distance to mine. I don't have a car. I would wrap them up and half the time they would take their clothes off. Cold doesn't make you ill ! It means my 10 and 13-year-olds are great and happy walkers. The 13 year old now chooses to do a 40-minute walk to school. People offer her lifts, but she doesn't want them. Scandi countries put babies outside to sleep - check out any school playground this time of year kids running around not a coat in sight in freezing temperatures.