I am picking my battles....

[kacaju]

If you happen to see my 13 year old daughter out without a coat on, please don't think I am a negligent Mom. She is insisting that she is NOT COLD and does not need a jacket to go to school.

DH this morning told her to put a jacket on before leaving for school. Her new comment is, I don't wear jackets!! Fine... I refuse to battle with her everyday over this. I told dh after she left today to leave her alone, I am done fighting with her over this. I told him if I make her wear one she will end up leaving on the bus, or it will get lost. At least right now I know it is here at home.

We will see how long this lasts, we are in NJ so it has not been horribly cold just yet.

 

[Christine]

No worries!!

I gave up that battle LONG ago. My DD is in her first semester of college and my son is in his first year of high school. I can't remember the last time they wore a "real" coat. In fact, I don't think I've bought one in a few years because they refuse to wear them. My son will wear a hoodie (as did my DD). We live in Northern VA so, while it is not Alaska or anything, it gets very cold here in Jan/Feb/March.

 

[JennSaint]

My boys are 14 & 13 and are still wearing sweatshirts to school. I doubt they will put a winter coat on all winter. Although yesterday it was 60 degrees here!

 

[kellyg403]

No problem with me either...there are hills to die on and this isn't one for me. DS left the house this morning in shorts and a hoodie. I mentioned to him that it was not supposed to be as warm as yesterday and he mentioned he would be fine.

Sounded good to me!

Kelly

 

[nmmom95]

I am having the same problem with DS11. He will only wear a hoodie. We are also in NJ. It's been a little chilly in the morning, but it warms up, so I am picking my battles, as well.

 

[PrincessNancy96]

NO problem with me either... I'm battling this same thing.. started 5 years ago w/ our 18 year old.... this is now 4 kids I'm dealing with... Now the 9 yo thinks he doesn't need a coat.... ERGH!!!

Sometimes they just have to learn on their own... You should have seen the disgusted faces when I asked if they had gloves and hats in their backpacks...

 

[kacaju]

I wouldn't care so much if she wore a hoodie, all I can say is at least today she had on a long sleeve shirt. Most of the time it is acami with a almost see through cap sleeve shirt over it.

 

[kacaju]

sometimes they just have to learn on their own... You should have seen the disgusted faces when i asked if they had gloves and hats in their backpacks...

lol!!!

 

[lovesmurfs]

If you happen to see my 13 year old daughter out without a coat on, please don't think I am a negligent Mom. She is insisting that she is NOT COLD and does not need a jacket to go to school.

DH this morning told her to put a jacket on before leaving for school. Her new comment is, I don't wear jackets!! Fine... I refuse to battle with her everyday over this. I told dh after she left today to leave her alone, I am done fighting with her over this. I told him if I make her wear one she will end up leaving on the bus, or it will get lost. At least right now I know it is here at home.

We will see how long this lasts, we are in NJ so it has not been horribly cold just yet.

I decided long ago that wasn't the hill I wanted to die on. DS still only wears a hoodie through the winter (Chicago--brrr!!!). His choice -- his pride. DD tried it (she's 5 years younger). Once she realized how much warmer a coat is, she used the brains God gave her and wears it along with a hat, scarf and gloves.

 

[PrincessNancy96]

Hoodies have become an extended part of our family!

 

[MIGrandma]

Good for you. Natural consequences are she will either get cold and want to start wearing her jacket, or she won't. I think picking your battles is a very smart thing to do.

I myself rarely wear a winter coat and I live in Michigan. I do keep it in my car, just in case I have car trouble and would need it. But to just run into a store from my car, I don't wear it. I get too hot wearing it in stores, so it's easier to just leave it in the car. I usually wear a hoodie, that's warm enough for me most of the time.

 

[laurie31]

I wouldn't care so much if she wore a hoodie, all I can say is at least today she had on a long sleeve shirt. Most of the time it is acami with a almost see through cap sleeve shirt over it.

Hey, at least she had long sleeves!

My DD13 went to band practice on Monday in short sleeves, and it was in the 30's! She wouldn't even TAKE a jacket.

At least DD11 has hers in her backpack, but no, she's not wearing it. (and it's that dang North Face one she HAD to have, and that she wore all the time back in August, when it was over 90 every day. )

 

[hentob]

DH this morning told her to put a jacket on before leaving for school. Her new comment is, I don't wear jackets!!

She talked back to your husband? I am torn about this. Yes, it is "just" a coat, but she was told to do something and refused to do it. I would not battle, but there would be consequences for talking back and refusing to listen to a parent.

I would have calmly asked "Are you telling me you are not going to listen to what I just TOLD you to do?" And, depending on her answer, she would have privileges revoked. No battle whatsoever

Tricky age. If they start the direct defiance (with no consequences) at age 13, age 16 is going to be hell.

Good luck

 

[golfgal]

I don't think my DS17 has worn a winter coat to school in 4 years. We live in Minnesota and it gets plenty cold here. I DO insist he keeps one in his car though.

 

[mjkacmom]

She talked back to your husband? I am torn about this. Yes, it is "just" a coat, but she was told to do something and refused to do it. I would not battle, but there would be consequences for talking back and refusing to listen to a parent.

I would have calmly asked "Are you telling me you are not going to listen to what I just TOLD you to do?" And, depending on her answer, she would have privileges revoked. No battle whatsoever

Tricky age. If they start the direct defiance (with no consequences) at age 13, age 16 is going to be hell.

Good luck

As a mom of a dd13, I disagree. If dad told her to hang up her jacket, and she said "I don't hang up jackets," there would be an issue. However, a 13 year old is certainly old enough to decide whether to wear a jacket or not. If she's cold, she's cold. Not a hill to die on.

We're in NJ, and ds11 has yet to wear pants!

 

[Mom21]

At least DD11 has hers in her backpack, but no, she's not wearing it. (and it's that dang North Face one she HAD to have, and that she wore all the time back in August, when it was over 90 every day. )

What is up with that? My dd is jacket queen she owns so many. One is an Aeropostle with that furry stuff inside. She wore it all summer, every time I turned around. Thing is we live in South Florida. She may need a jacket about 1 week out of the year. I kept telling her how ridiculous it looked to wear a fur jacket in 100 degrees but of course she didn't listen.

 

[MomofKatie]

So far, DD is fine with wearing a coat when it is really cold.

When she was in kindergarten and 1st grade, I drove her to school. We would pass the high schol bus stop every morning. There was a young man there who would NEVER wear long sleeves or long pants, much less a coat!! I told DD that I wanted to stop the car and run over and throw a blanket over him or something! Brrrrr!!

 

[kellyg403]

Its the same with umbrellas around here. I have bought thousands of umbrella's...they leave them on the bus and at school and anywhere else. I have gotten to the point where they don't have a jacket in their bookbag because I made them take one 'just in case', I don't have to buy a new one.

Anything not attached gets left somewhere!

Kelly

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I had a put an end to the flip flops for my 13yodd. As far as the coat thing.....

We finally found a leather brown bomber-type coat that is lined and pretty nice at Nordstroms. On sale during their shoe extravaganza. I don't ever shop there we just happened to be at the mall that day and searched high and low.

I still have to buy her a winter coat. It has been difficult to find one that fits. It is driving me nuts. We were getting away with buying her a coat in the girls Dept. but she cannot fit into them any longer and the adult smalls are too big.

So I can join you with coat irritation for a 13yo girl.

 

[lspst8]

Haha ... I'm 30, and I didn't wear a coat today. (It was 34 degrees when i left my hosue this morning.) I hate wearing coats for my long commute. They feel bulky, hot, and constricting. Maybe your daughter hates her bus ride when she has a coat on. I do have a coat and scarf in my car just in case.