Just moved to Columbus, Ohio and scared about winter

[DisneyCrazyX5]

We are in Westerville. This was a very quick move for my husband's job and we bought a house quickly and hope that we are in a good place. (I know, I know, not the perfect thing to do but....) My daughter is going into middle school and I don't know anything about sending her off to school in the snow. Do you wear boots over other shoes or what?? Are jeans good for middle school in the winter? Any help is appreciated. Would love to do a Columbus Disboard meet up!

My boys wear tennis shoes all year round to school. They don't have recess if it is too cold or snowy outside. They do fine without boots to and from the school bus. MY 15 year old usually does note wear a coat to school - just a hoodie. My 5th graders do wear coats and hats since they still get a recess.

I try to keep my pantry and kitchen stocked up more in the winter. I don't like to be in the rush to the store that happens before every snow fall we get.

 

[jackets9]

Welcome to Columbus! We are transplants as well and truly love it here.

As for winter, dont worry. It is not that bad. As other posters have said, the first time it snows, find a parking lot and practice driving in it. My son is in middle school and generally wears jeans or track pants with a long sleeve T and a hoodie. He does not wear a coat because he claims that it does not fit in his locker.

What may start to get to you is the fact that spring here is terrible. It is cold and damp and does not really warm up until May. This is why so many of us vacation your way during spring break. It gives us a week of warm and sun in the hopes that we can make it through the rest of the spring!

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

We are over here in Pittsburgh( 3 hours east) but still get snow , ice and cold.

I agree my 13 yo DS would rather freeze to death than be caught with boots at school. He wears tennis shoes all year round and wears shorts even in the winter. Kids! If its really cold I make him wear glovesbut I'm sure he takes them off as soon as I can't see him anymore as he walks to the bus stop and a hat OMG never!

My daughter a little younger wears skirts with leggins and her Ugg boots.
Girls in my sons middle school wear alot of jeans and Ugg boots with hoodies or cute layered tops.

My husband has all the winter gear but he works outside. I have lived here all my life and do not own a pair of snow boots. I hate the snow and if I do need to go out I wear my Uggs. Yes I do work but I go from the car in the garage at home to parking in a garage at work.
I have a somewhat warm jacket but definetly no parka and I don't wear a hat unless I;m attending a winter Steeler game.

I would make sure you had a front wheel drive or if possible all wheel drive vehicle. Rear wheel drive sucks and it will be hard to get around especially since I assume you have never driven in the snow. And of course there is the 4 wheel drive SUV. At least where you are is level compared to Pittsburgh so no hills to worry about.

Always carry an ice scraper just in case.
And you'll find out when there's an announcement that there will be snow whether its 1 inch or 1 foot the grocery stores are FULL! I'm not sure what people expect . Its kind of funny really.

Good Luck! One of my best friends lives in Grove City, outside of Columbus.

 

[ceecee]

You might also want to buy a shovel before the first snowfall. We bought a snowblower for the driveway last year and it's great!!!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Lots of good suggestions here. Be VERY careful the first time you try to drive on snow and ice. I suggest that you find a deserted parking lot after the first snow and practice. Some tips:

http://www.weather.com/activities/driving/drivingsafety/drivingsafetytips/snow.html

http://www.syracuse.com/weather/snow/stories/driving.html

http://www.edmunds.com/car-safety/driving-on-snow-and-ice-10-safety-tips.html

Don't be apprehensive. You may find that you like living where there is such a dramatic change of seasons.

 

[KrysiaG]

Welcome to Ohio!

Well, I have to tell you that every winter I ask myself why on earth we live in Ohio. And I realize that SEVERAL states/areas have it WAY worse than we do. The good news is that if we get more than 2" of snow, schools are closed, LOL. The bad news is: snow, ice and not being able to wear flip flops during the winter. Ever.

You'll manage. Some great tips here about lighters in your purse for frozen locks, blankets in your car just in case you break down anywhere, layers clothes during the winter and a great, thick coat with gloves/scarves/mittens/hat.

Winter is no fun.

I am such a summer person. We live in our pool all summer. I HATE it when Winter comes and we are all stuck inside the house for months on end.

 

[ceecee]

Welcome to Ohio!

Well, I have to tell you that every winter I ask myself why on earth we live in Ohio. And I realize that SEVERAL states/areas have it WAY worse than we do. The good news is that if we get more than 2" of snow, schools are closed, LOL.

The bad news is we have to make up snow days after 5 and it goes into our Disney vacation which we like to do the first week of June.

 

[stargazer2892]

I moved to Maine from California in 8 grade, talk about a difference in temps! That first year we froze our butts off. The first year is the hardest until your blood starts to thicken. As far as what we wore no matter how many arguments we had with parents it was jeans, sneakers (uggs weren't around then), tee-shirt, and a hoodie. The only time I remember seeing actual winter clothes is when we went snowboarding. As I grew up I found that a "nice" winter coat for running errands and going out and then a "shoveling" coat worked out nicely, the shoveling one had a removable insert because as weird as this sounds shoveling is hot and sweaty it was nice to be able to have a long seleve shirt and the outer shell. In every car we always had our emergency box which had a thick blanket, a couple of granola bars, flashlight. glowsticks, first aid kit, and a phone charger. When driving I was taught "slow and steady, smooth movements" always expect ice and break slowly. That has saved my car many times. The first winter is always the worst, and everyone has different tricks and tips that they have learned over time. Oh! don't bother with the super expensive gloves, you will always lose one of them. They will either fall out of your purse, pocket, car, ect. My parents keep a basket by their front door and when its time to shovel all you can hope for is two of the same weight.

 

[beansmom]

my first winter in Mass, my DH insisted we get me 'a proper winter coat' so we got one of those down filled michelin man lookin jobs that goes almost down to my feet. Yuck. But lemme tell ya what...that sucker is WARRRRRRRRRM.

outside of the proper winter coat, you definitely need layers. I feel myself unbearably warm at work because the heat is on so I dress in light layers.

 

[Bearshouse]

Noone's said anything about what to have on hand in case of a power outage.

We try to always have on hand the following:

Crackers
peanut butter
jelly
snack type food
bottled water

If you live on a well instead of city water we always fill the tub when they are predicting snow, gotta be able to flush!

If you try to go grocery shopping just before they have announced snow you will not find bread, milk and eggs.


Defentily pratice drive on the snow in a parking lot. Best advice I got when I learned to drive ALWAYS look where you want the car to go and you know what it will.

Welcome to the snow and fun!!

Bearshouse

 

[dizanimator]

If you live on a well instead of city water we always fill the tub when they are predicting snow, gotta be able to flush!

I'm a bit south and west of Columbus, but still in Ohio. I haven't had much in the way of long power outages in the winter, but that statement reminded me of 2008 when Ike hit. We lost power on Sunday and didn't get it back until Friday morning. That's the longest continuous power outage I can remember. We ended up getting some gas cans and taking them to the fire department to get water to flush with.

Do be careful driving and walking in the winter, ice is slippery. If you really don't know how to drive on ice, or are really nervous about it, see if a driving school gives winter driving lessons for driving on bad roads. I'm not sure if they're offered in Columbus, but they are available where I live.

 

[Katy Belle]

We moved to Oklahoma last year, after living in the desert for 5 years, and in the South before that. I would suggest 2shovels. We had only one, and it was slow digging ourselves out! The stores were all sold out! Oh, and get your DD a good sled before the snow comes!

 

[gk90]

Good luck settling in! I hate having cold feet and love the Costco UGGS for winter, and lots of teen girls wear them too.

 

[shortbun]

Buy a lot of ice pellet stuff in the beginning of the winter because places run out later on. Get a shovel for snow and one that really will chop ice. Plastic, cheap snow shovels do not chop ice. Good functional boots, we are often dealing with slush so they need to be waterproof. Dress boots are a waste. Good, heavy gloves and a coat with a hood that actually insulates. Flip flops are not allowed at school-ever.
A good scarf is also a great item to have. I get mine at Target where they sell some cool fleece ones with matching gloves and hats in the fall. I live right in Columbus. Oh, and school busses run late on the first few snowy, icy days so make sure your daughter has warm clothes or drive her to school.

 

[cassandrap83]

*Ice scrapers in everybody's car from October thru April

*Small shovel in everybody's car (you can get these at Bed Bath & Beyond)

*Uggs or Bear Paw boots for the ladies (ugly, but keep your feet warm. Knock-offs are NOT worth it)

*Buy lots of rock salt ahead of time

*2 Shovels for your house

*Gutter-heaters if you own a home (I remember during the brief period between giant snow storms last year, that EVERYONE was installing them)