To absolutely dread winter

[Notagoodtime]

I love this time of year. My kids are so much easier to entertain with paddling pools, trips to beach and picnics. We eat outside and have so much time outdoors. No house to heat so energy bills lower too.
I’m just dreading the winter months where the kids seem to pick up every germ that’s going. It’s dark at 4:30 and I find it so much harder to get up on dark mornings. I have so much more energy in the summer.

Moving to a warmer country is not an option so Any suggestions on how to embrace the winter months! I feel a bit panicky just thinking about the winter months.

I'm the opposite I love winter and dark nights! I've struggled this summer with the heat and constantly having to arrange days out. In winter my kids seem to entertain themselves more.

Winter is the time to slow down a bit, even for dc. It's only a few weeks that it gets dark that early. Make the most of daylight at weekends. Some of our best days out have been cold weekend walks in country parks then back home got whatever I bunged in the slow cooker in front of the TV. On crappy days we would go to the library or wander around garden centres that had aquatics and reptiles. Visit grandparents for a change of scenery. Cinemas usually have offers on weekend mornings. Board game afternoons were a hit too. Uno is a great fairly quick game and the Monopoly card game version. Lots of TV. I wish Disney Plus had been around when mine were small. £7.99 per month! I can clearly remember buying the Disney DVD's on 'offer' at 2 for £20.

Can't help much with the cost of energy. That's going to hit us all.

YANBU I hate it too

Especially as then Activities for the kids all move inside thus usually more expensive!

Me and my DC are the opposite.
We love dark early cozy nights. The crunch of leafs as you walk through them. Also the awesomeness of not over heating and getting heat stroke wins as well. 😂
I like summer but I don't like 30 degrees+ summer.

I put YANBU as you entitled to enjoy whatever weather you like: but I’m the opposite! I love autumn/winter/spring. I’m finding it impossible to sleep in this heat, everyone is just hot and grouchy and our garden is quite small, so to entertain Dd we have to take her out somewhere - which necessitates sun cream, extra drinks etc only for her to get overheated and crabby after half an hour or so and want to go home. I also struggle with cooking inspiration in hot weather as all my staples are hot and DD won’t eat salad etc. Nope, bring on Halloween!

Completely agree. I absolutely hate winter. Crisp sunny days that are not too cold are ok but freezing less than 5 degree days or horrendously windy and rainy days are just awful.
I think it depends if you are a going out person or a homebody.
Homebodys tend to love winter as there is no pressure to go out.
My children don’t slow down just because the season changes. They are a lively and squabbly as ever only now it’s all confined indoors- you’ve lost a huge part of the house (the garden) for almost 3 months as they will only go out there for 10 mins before it’s too cold.
They can play on the green after school for long or at all some days as it’s muddy and gets dark early.
Indoor going out activities are so expensive with multiple children.
The only grandparents house we have to go to is worse than our own as they want children to be quiet and sitting down which isn’t going to happen with multiple young boys in particular.
A walk is ok now and then but it’s usually extremely muddy and quite honestly after lockdowns and 1000 walks my lot are absolutely fed up with walks as am I tbh.
i hate it and usually can’t wait for the end of March to roll around.

This summer has been amazing, hasn’t it? I normally find august a bit depressing, humid and damp and uninspired, but have loved the warmth.

I like the change though. I like autumn and winter and then the first spring flowers followed by daffs, blossom and then summer again

I hate winter , summer is the best!

I don't know why people hate it , the freedom and relaxed feeling of summer is amazing!

Winter is miserable ! I'm dreading it being September soon! Winter is soooo long ! 🙄🙄

Get some waterproofs and wellies for the kids while they're all still in the sale. Embrace the cold, wet, muddy outdoors. Go exploring and make a mess, have adventures and then come home to hot chocolate and a chilli in the slow cooker.

Spend the afternoon cuddled up watching films or doing crafts.

Winters awesome.

I don’t like winter either. The summer sun is the best although I admit I’m ready for the weather to be a little cooler now. I love the long summer nights too. Hate getting up in the dark when it feels like the middle of the night and barely getting home from school and it’s pitch black - then having to go out again for the kids clubs - hate that!

I used to live autumn and winter, but I have loved the good weather this summer and it has made looking after the children so much easier. It's got cold and wet here the past couple of days and I feel so down realising summer is probably over and we're heading into the gloomy winter months. No advice for you but I completely know how you feel!

I love a mild autumn but am shitting myself about putting the heating on re the cost.

I understand people's love of summer but it's my least favourite season. I can't wait to choose a new winter coat, cook warming meals. Maybe from an energy bill perspective I am dreading it this year lol 😆

I love love love summer. I have muted everyone talking about other seasons on social media. I wish it could be summer all the time. I don't try and see the positive in winter, imo that makes it more depressing. I just knuckle down and count the days back to summer.

Am with you op. It’s fine til jan but feb-April the worst

Love summer. Swimming in the cool sea on a hot day - bliss

I don't mind autumn, but hate frosts, snow and the cold. Also, my elderly DM is a real worrier so often ger regular phone calls worrying about weather, her heating etc. I do don't think it's going to be cosy for many - lots will be cutting back on energy usage, some to the extreme.

I”d just like it to stay somewhere between 17 and 22 at all times🙂

Totally agree. Its wonderful if you are a 2.4 family, married etc with house / garden/ time and money to " cuddle up on sofas with hot chocolate" and be "cosy" but if you are a single working parent with zero childcare/ family support or extra finances to cushion winter not to mention Christmas, it is long,
Lonely, cold, hard and depressing.

Nope the heat has been unbearable plus not everyone has a garden to enjoy.

The worst thing about winter is Mumsnet blasting you with this nonsense about wrapping the kids up and embracing the wet days and all hail the puddlesuit.

I hope anyone who posts that is trapped in their house by a giant puddlesuit.

YANBU. I don’t want to sit on my arse, chugging hot chocolate, I want to be out, enjoying myself. Winter makes everything shit.

I'm exactly the same as you love the summer life's so much nicer and easier, everyone's happier and more relaxed. My energy levels are 10x better than in the winter. I don't have much advice other than if you can invest in a sad lamp, use it for 15 minutes a day. Does make me feel better but it's still a battle especially getting up in the morning really not looking forward to that. Oh and the rain eeurghhhh.

This heat and sunshine has been glorious! Long may it continue!

I bloody hate 'snuggles with a hot choc'

I'm more into spring (if it is warm). I love the change in weather after winter and the clocks changing. I live near coast, so swimming in the sea, days at beach and being able to walk or run somewhere in the evening/go to outdoor events is great. It is exhausting making the most of it though and with the heat I'm knackered by it all now.

i would welcome winter if it was just a few weeks long, but otherwise hate it. I hate the darkness and loss of freedom. Hate vegging out on sofa, but usually end up doing that as we are constantly ill. I weirdly depend on Strictly, winter walks and Christmas to get me through it all. Jan and Feb are just bloody awful! Wish I could have a 2 month holiday abroad then.

I think this winter is going to be absolutely dark and grim for many people.