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.

Oh god, Christmas. I hate Christmas

Yes. This.

This "Embrace the winter!" stuff is bollocks.

Especially this winter, there is nothing but misery to "embrace" for many, many people.

I adore winter and dont cope particularly.well in v hot weather so this summer has had its challenges .
However I try to embrace the positives of all seasons as much as possible esp as I get older as it has started to dawn on me that I might not have that many years of seasons left to appreciate.

I have utterly loathed this summer. I'm right in the south east corner of the island, so we've had the worst of the heat. It has barely dipped below 25 for six weeks. I'm covered in insect bites, can't sleep because it's so muggy and have literally been reduced to tears at times. I've also had heat stroke - vomitting and then passing out. I can't wait for colder weather. I'm absolutely yearning for it.

I do sympathize, however. I don't mind the cold. It's the darkness that gets me down. The worst time is from about the 10th of November to the end of January. People talk about loving the winter because they enjoy frosty mornings and playing in the snow and being cozy etc. But our winters aren't really like that. That's a Dickenisan fantasy. Our winters are mild and gloomy. It's really two or three months of stumbling around in darkness and mud. If I had the money, I would definitely bolt around the end of November - just bugger off to Florida or Cyprus.

I love summer but autumn is pretty good. And I've bought a few winter bits in the sales. Planning clothes and boots makes me a bit more positive.

I struggle with February mostly. By then, I've had enough and badly need some sun. I cheer up when the daffodils bloom.

I agree. I love summer, too.

We will try to make the best of winter though. Light the fire, movie nights with popcorn, snuggle under heated blankets, use our telescope more as it's dark so early! But yes, mainly it's hibernation.

@Neverfullycharged totally agree with you. Just The word puddlesuit is guaranteed to enrage me. Along with crisp, cosy, snuggle, hot chocolate etc.

Yeah fgs shut up with your 'snuggling' jeez what an appalling word

Btw, we don't have 'crisp' autumns, they're just muddy, damp, grey affairs in general.

I hate winter with a passion

The thing about puddlesuits is that they may keep off the odd splash but they are not hermetically sealed. My kids are way past that age now but I see toddlers wearing them and sitting in puddles and just think they must be soaking and will start screaming because their feet are wet.

Anyway, autumn is ok but Christmas is stressful and we all get colds. Roll on March.

Last autumn, I posted on a particularly wet, soggy day for ideas for what to do with a ten month old restless DS. I wanted to choke on a puddlesuit by the end of the thread (never mind the fact he was not walking at that point!)

It's only a few weeks that it gets dark that early

Depends where you live. I'm in the n.e. where sunset is at 4.30 on the 1st of November and isn't as late as that again until Jan 26th.

Puddlesuits are well and good but they aren’t the answer when it’s really properly hammering down, as opposed to just a bit damp.

That is when soft play is the answer …

Winter can't come quick enough for me.

I hate it too OP. While this summer has been too hot at times I love that it's light in the mornings and evenings. I hate having to drive around in the dark, draw the curtains, put lights on, bundle up in coats and jumpers, all the winter illnesses. I'd quite happily leave the UK in early November and not return until early March. It's my dream to spend the winter somewhere where the sun shines and it never gets truly cold.

Absolutely.

I enjoy all seasons, except the second half of winter (i.e. depressing months of January and February)

However I don't really enjoy the seaside in summer. I love the quiet deserted beaches off-season. I don't have to worry about suncream, change of clothes for the kids, towel e.t.c. I also love being at the coast during a storm.

We spend loads of time outdoors I winter too. And my kids are far too old for puddle suits. But they aren’t made of paper, they won’t melt in rain!

I love the coast in the winter, the squally sea and wind in your face!

im not a massive fan of hot weather, I’m fair skinned and so are my kids. Despite shade and sun cream ds had sun stroke last week. We have had to stay in doors more than we do in winter.

That said I get on with it. I don’t get the drama over winter, dress appropriately and carry on as normal.

Of course they won’t melt in the rain. But you do get cold, wet, dirty and uncomfortable.

That said I get on with it. I don’t get the drama over winter, dress appropriately and carry on as normal

Which would be some impressive stoic grit if you live in Aberdeen but if you are on the south coast telling people how to suck eggs and cope with token gesture you call winter, it's a bit of a joke.

Almost the same as during the horrendous hot weather we've been having recently - I got hot not cold, but definitely wet, dirty and uncomfortable.

I like days when it's 18-20C. No need for heating, but not uncomfortably warm. You can wear just about anything in those temperatures, a coat is fine, so is a swimsuit.

I hate the dark mornings and evenings though, especially that period where I arrive at work in the dark and leave work in the dark.

HATE winter!! My mood gradually deteriorates between Oct-Dec. hate Xmas and wish it would F**k off. January I breath a sigh of relief and start ticking off the days until the clocks change end of March.

Those talking about hot chocolate, board games and crunchy leaves..... the leaves are usually soggy from the rain, board games lead to rows and accusations of cheating, they can never agree on what to play etc etc. Nope, winter can do one!

I love Oct - Dec - its not bone cold, the air smells amazing, there are fairy lights everywhere and the excitement of bonfire night, christmas and halloween.

Jan - March is a real struggle - getting up in the dark, coming home in the dark. Nothing to look forward to.

I love all the seasons, including winter.

I DO live in NE Scotland so yes it is dark in the winter but the light you do get is absolutely stunning. It can be wet and windy, but we do get out every day regardless and dress properly… my kids don’t wear puddle suits but waterproof trousers and coats from Lidl and they will be out for hours and hours in all weather.

I absolutely loved the Jan/Feb lockdown.

All that said - I get why people don’t like it, just as I get why people don’t like summer. I guess ‘crispy and cosy’ to the summer lovers is similar to ‘floaty dress’ for the winter lovers… and for those worrying about energy bills, the prospect of this winter must be horrifying.

I'm dreading it too op, hate the grey winter skies - it's rarely'crisp and cold' more damp and depressing. I felt sad last night when I had to put the light on at 9pm as it was dark. I usually try to go somewhere hot in February so that I have something to focus on to get me through but no chance of that this year.
Oh and getting dc out the door for school with hats gloves coats wellies takes so much longer than summer too, waking up in the dark is hard and it will be dark again before I get home from work.
I can usually gee myself along through Halloween and Christmas but then it's just a slog until the daffodils emerge

This! My favourite thing. This summer has been the first time in years that the water's been warm enough in the UK to enjoy that simple pleasure without becoming freezing!