I Love Winter

I love winter.

This statement probably makes me suspect in many of your eyes right now… but hear me out. I didn’t always feel this way. For most of my adult life (post college), I have dreaded winter. It was something to be endured and I would always hope spring would come early. The gray skies. The cold. Why would anyone like winter?

As a pediatrician, the dreadful weather is compounded with the fact that winter is the busiest time of year in the office. Lots of sick kids to treat generally means stressful days and long hours.  Even more of a reason to welcome spring and warmer weather with open arms! But six years ago, I discovered a way to enjoy winter again: skiing. An off handed comment I made  about wanting to learn to ski to our friends resulted in a trip to Colorado with them a few weeks later.  And my husband and I have been hooked ever since.

Every winter, we try to get in a week or two of skiing to help break the monotony of winter.  Skiing allows us to enjoy being outside in the winter and enjoy beautiful mountain vistas. But most importantly, it allows us to feel like kids again: playing in the snow, a sense of adventure in discovering new terrain. It gives us a much needed break from our increasingly stressful lives.

So I would encourage you as parents to find some activity outdoors in the winter for your family to enjoy together. I know it has made my winters much more enjoyable.