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Discipline and the heat wave
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The kids and I like to watch the old black and white Andy Griffith shows during hot summer afternoons, usually after their reading time. It is hard to stay in a bad mood when laughing at such comical genius. 🙂
And don’t forget the ice cold lemonade for special treats. And my kids like to have just an ice chest full of ice to crunch on while sitting outside. They will sit beside it and just talk and crunch, and sometimes throw it on each other! It passes the time away if needed. 🙂
Okay, I’m bumping this up from a summer or two ago, not because I conquered the cranky behavior thing, but because it’s going to hit 90 today (I hope I’m wrong about that!) and I was just looking back at the ideas for keeping cool.
My kids are asking (& asking & asking & asking….) me to take them to the public pool a few blocks away….I think I’d rather pay the $5 apiece to take them over to the pool in the next town instead. Our big city public pool system is: 1) sign in & show your proof of residence, 2) wait in line outside in the hot sun for 30 minutes until the next rest period, 3) after the rest period, they let you in to swim for 30 minutes, and 4) get out after 30 minutes & get back in line.
I’ve reminded them of how it works, and they still want to go….kids!
That sounds like a crazy pool! We took all 7 to the outdoor pool at the YMCA yesterday. They have swim for 45 minutes then a 15 min break for lifeguards (nobody in the pool). Ours has a splash pad though so that’s where we go during the break. Still wet and cold – yay.
Most of the time I’m simply not up for taking them all right now (baby really is coming in 3 weeks) so we turn a sprinkler on in the back yard.
Another fun to the kids idea is give them a wet washcloth to wear. We did this last July when we had a week long power outage from storms in 90+F heat. It helps.
In Florida, 90+ degrees with super high humidity is the norm for a great majority of the year. Therefore it is no excuse for bad or cranky behavior here.
Not to sound stupid, BUT…
Don’t you people have air conditioning??? And, if not, how do you live without it???
I have only ever lived in Florida, Texas, and Oklahoma, so forgive me for my ignorance. But if you don’t have air conditioning, I would seriously start saving for a window unit…at the very least.
I am sorry for the crankys 🙁 – I think I would be right there with them if it wasn’t for the marvel of cold a/c!!
God bless you and keep you and your kiddos cool!
Wow, this heat wave must be all over the country. Up here in AK we are melting, literally if you’re a glacier.
It was 90 a few days ago and our normal is about 66 in late June, so we are all bewildered. There is no a/c here, all the stores are out of box fans and grills, and there has never been an outdoor pool, only indoor, heated ones. Ick right now, but very welcome in January.
For the time being, we are just jumping in to the Pacific and rather liking it. 🙂
As for misbehavior, we are having to curtail a lot of our activities and just stay put due to the sun and heat. We end up reading a lot and I know my dc are getting bored. We’re doing tons of naps and keeping hydrated. They go out in 15-minute increments and then come looking for shade.
Praying you can keep your cool, everyone.
I would add prayer. Pray for grace, wisdom, and provision for window units or some sort of ac. Seriously. God cares about such things that affect us so very much.
Also, have a sit down with the kiddos one evening and discuss/brainstorm strategies for surviving hot days. Tell them what is expected and what will not be allowed behavior wise. Have older ones do some research looking for unique ways to stay cool.
Of course empathize with them for being hot, but come up with ways to cope. They may come up with great ideas. Knowing what is expected/acceptable is half the battle in my book.
We have super humid summers here – although I am blessed to have central air. But I know what it is like on some days when we are working in the yard/garden/barn or even in and out of the car and parking lots on 100 degree 99% humidity days. It does lend to the grumpies. I agree that there should be grace along with discipline.
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