It is freezing here and I counted 12 boys wearing shorts

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

My DS is in 8th grade. Yesterday it was 27 degrees and he wanted to wear a long sleeved Polo and a paper thin little zip front jacket. I made him put a T-shirt under the Polo.

The kids aren't allowed to have lockers this year because they "take too much time between classes". But the reality is that the lockers are a security risk. DS can't be bothered to wear a coat and carry it all day. Which is probably good, because he would lose it if he tried to carry it around.

I told him someone is going to call CPS and have me investigated. Then this morning one of his friends got out in the carpool line wearing shorts. Good. CPS will go get that kid's mom first.

 

[torinsmom]

I am always worried that someone will think I am a horrible parent who want buy DS15 a winter coat! He has TWO and yet he wears his hoodie every single day. THere he is at the busstop, standing like a statue because he is so cold, but yet, he won't wear a coat! I guess the 4 other teens standing with him in similar clothes understand.

 

[phorsenuf]

Middle school boy mom here- my DSs wear shorts all the time. Occasionally if it is really cold (below freezing), I tell them to put on pants. Many of the elementary and middle school boys wear shorts all year. I don't see it being any different than the girls in skirts.

After spending years arguing with my boys about wearing shorts in the winter it finally dawned on me that it really isn't any different than girls wearing skirts/dresses in the winter.

It's freezing here and the girls at school are still wearing tanks and flip flops. I get cold just looking at them!

 

[HsvTeacher]

Several of my students, all boys, wear shorts and short-sleeved shirts all the time. (Today it was in the upper 30s, which is pretty cold around here.) However, it's soooooo HOT in my classroom, that we can barely breathe! Unfortunately, I can't adjust the temp, so I guess that's how they stay comfortable.

 

[punkin]

I don't see it being any different than the girls in skirts.

When I was a child my dress code in school was a skirt/dress and my grandma did not let me out of the house without warm cotton tights (boy did they sag around the ankles). I also had a pair of itchy wool ones saved for the very coldest days. Yuk!

My girls have Hannah Andersson (sp?) tights which look much nicer than the ones I had to wear and are fairly warm.

 

[imabrat]

My son went to the Poconos to go hunting with his uncles & grandfather this weekend. He was ticked that I made him take his coat. WTH??? I know he won't need it when he actually goes hunting as his hunting gear (orange oversuit & coat) are at his GF's cabin but jeez. Tomorrow's high for where he'll be is only 30 frickin degrees with 10-15 mph wind!

Kids.

If he's still here, it got to about 17 degrees as the high today!

 

[DisnyMama]

Guilty!! Me and DS who is now 18 are native So. Californian's but when we lived in North TX. from 2006 to 2008 and it snowed a few times and many ice/freeze days in the low 20's DS continued to wear his shorts and flip flops every where we went. He got the strangest looks!

 

[golfgal]

My DS is in 8th grade. Yesterday it was 27 degrees and he wanted to wear a long sleeved Polo and a paper thin little zip front jacket. I made him put a T-shirt under the Polo.

The kids aren't allowed to have lockers this year because they "take too much time between classes". But the reality is that the lockers are a security risk. DS can't be bothered to wear a coat and carry it all day. Which is probably good, because he would lose it if he tried to carry it around.

I told him someone is going to call CPS and have me investigated. Then this morning one of his friends got out in the carpool line wearing shorts. Good. CPS will go get that kid's mom first.

I think you are pretty safe from that call I don't blame your kids for not wearing coats if they are expected to carry them around all day and they get rides to and from school. Why do they need them??? Just keep his in the car if the car breaks down on the way to school. I should take pictures of the kids in shorts, t-shirts, no coats with piles of snow in the background sometime and that will make you all feel better

Now, on Wednesday when we actually got some snow, the kids were outside playing in the snow and they had hats, mittens, coats, snow pants and boots on so they wear them when they need them.

 

[Tantor]

I told my daughter if I caught her outside without her coat on she'd be grounded for 2 weeks ( she's 13) and if she wore her runners in the snow and ruined them she would be replacing them herself.......I follow through on my threats and she knows it.

 

[golfgal]

I told my daughter if I caught her outside without her coat on she'd be grounded for 2 weeks ( she's 13) and if she wore her runners in the snow and ruined them she would be replacing them herself.......I follow through on my threats and she knows it.

WOW-that is pretty harsh--2 weeks for not wearing a coat if you aren't cold??? The shoes, ok, but WOW.

 

[palmtreegirl]

My DD(13) is the opposite, she had on a hat, gloves and a coat yesterday and it was in the low 50's.

 

[Tantor]

WOW-that is pretty harsh--2 weeks for not wearing a coat if you aren't cold??? The shoes, ok, but WOW.

it's -21C ( way below 0F) here today . When it's warmer not a problem

 

[shortbun]

Yeah, I pitched a fit on my bus this week. I reminded them that diesel fuel gels and the buses stop running-thus no heat. They all glazed over. lol!
I remember when I was 14 I wore loafers with no socks all winter long.

 

[torinsmom]

I can def. understand making your child wear a coat when it is -21 degrees---OUCH!

I do have a problem with parents who tell their kids not to EVER take their coats off when they go outside. We live in NC, so it could be 60 degrees some days. I have had kids (4-6 year olds ) almost having heat strokes, because they have on three layers and a heavy coat(and are running around), but they refuse to take the coat off b/c mom will be mad. MY rule is usually if I have my coat on, they need theirs on. I am pretty hot natured, so it is usually a good guideline. Some teachers are colder natured and think I am crazy, but I think by that age, kids know how their body feels. Besides, cold air does not make you cold.

Marsha

 

[mjkacmom]

My ds11 is in 6th grade, elementary school, and walks (no buses here). I noticed something different about him yesterday (temps in the 20's), and realized it was the first time in 6 months he wasn't wearing shorts!

 

[golfgal]

it's -21C ( way below 0F) here today . When it's warmer not a problem

I guess I just have a hard time seeing this as something to ground a kid for--if she gets cold she will learn her lesson and either come inside and get a coat or be freezing and uncomfortable. It's only -6F, which is cold, but not so bad if they are just running from the car to school.

 

[Mickey's Minion]

Well one of them could have been my DS. He's in middle school so no more recess. He's only outside waiting after school in carpool. It's not a battle I'm willing to fight.

Now if he goes to an outdoor event and it's cold I do make him wear pants. (And he fights me tooth and nail!)

Same here. We had a cold snap last week where it ranged from -6 to -2 without the windchill (windchill brought it down to the double digits, one morning -21 F).

Shorts, t-shirt and a hoodie it was for my entire carpool.

The boys' arguments - no recess so no need to dress for the weather, since we carpool the only time they are outside is the short jaunt between the school and the car, the lockers are small so winter coats and accessories just don't fit (they are not allowed to bring their backpacks into the classrooms), and most of all, they keep the school so hot that they are very uncomfortable in winter clothing in the building.

I want him to be comfortable while learning and if he is uncomfortable in long pants and long sleeved shirts, and the arguments for not wearing winter clothing are sound as the boys have presented them, then I am going to trust their judgment on this issue. I don't have to sit in the classrooms all day, they do.

His coat, mittens, hat, boots are worn without argument on the ski slopes, sledding or anytime that there is prolonged activity outside. Although many times, such as when shooting hoops outside in the freezing weather, I will see the jackets shed on the ground as the boys play. They know their bodies and will put the coats back on when they are cold.