Helps for those winter BLAH days

I love winter.   I really love those crisp, sunny days with the gleaming white snow reflecting light everywhere.   I feel alive and refreshed and ready to conquer those New Year’s resolutions.  But then out of the blue the inversion sets in.  Mucky gray sets over the valley and I just feel blah.  So how do I conquer the inevitable blah and get down to living?

 First I open my window shades and let in as much natural light as possible.  Then I wait for the beautiful 2 hour stretch in the middle of the day to go out in the sunshine for a brisk walk.  This usually is from 1-3pm.  I bundle my kiddos up and we play I Spy as we go.  If I am alone with my baby I find different textures for his little hands to explore; a leaf, stick, flower, or set him down to crunch a bit in the snow.   Some days I pack them in our double stroller, some in arms, and some in a cuddle backpack.

If the inversion is too thick and being outdoors is ill-advised we may take a warm bath or “sauna day.”  “Sauna day” is my nickname for closing the bathroom door and turning the shower on as hot as it goes with the curtain closed and my kiddos and I sitting on beach towels playing with bubbles from a wand or bath toys.  Being warm and breathing in some humidity does wonders for my mood.  Just make sure your kiddos are far away from the stream of hot water to prevent burns and stay by their side at all times.

Other days we will cook homemade play dough or make cookies or science experiments with simple household items.  We sometimes combine all of the above by making a dinosaur themed diorama in an old shoebox.  We can use leaves from adventure walks for trees, print pictures from the internet or have the kids draw pictures and paste them inside.  I may use a baby food glass jar and surround it with play dough or clay for a volcano and add baking soda and vinegar (plus red food coloring) for a volcano scene.

If I really feel imprisoned in my own home, I trudge to my next door neighbor who is in her 90’s for a nice chat.  Or take a trip to visit the grandparents.  Chances are they will be as excited to see you as you are to see them.

My baby doesn’t need the craft making and he loves to watch the bubbling action with a simple bowl and tray.  Aren’t babies fantastic!!!  We find simple joy in playing singing games like: 5 green and Speckled Frogs, Patty Cake, and I Stuck My Head in a Little Skunk’s Hole.  He loves for me to make animal noises, read him stories, and blow on his belly.  Though my kiddos do start painting in their high chairs (to minimize mess) around 15 months.

It’s amazing how much fun I have playing with my kids and then the inversion days pass me by.

Recipe for  Beary Good Playdough

1 C water (add food coloring to make color other than cream)

1 C Flour

½ C salt

2 TBS oil

2 TBS Cream of Tartar

**Cook on medium heat in pan until thick.  Store in plastic bag.  Do not store in fridge.

~Guest Blogger
                 Stacey Starley