Kids and the COAT battle...

[gr8tpanther]

DD11 hates wearing a coat! Her and I argue daily over her not wearing one! She will wear 2 or 3 hoodies before she will wear a COAT!

Do you struggle with your kids to wear coats? Is this something I should fuss over or let her freeze? Maybe she really doesn't mind the cold and it is just me? What to do.

 

[noseybuddy]

My son went through this for a year or two. And he wasn't the only one. Most kids on the bus stop didn't wear a coat. He is now 17 and he goes back and forth. I did make a big deal about it at the time, but then I just let it go. He did not get sick from not wearing a coat. Let it go, not worth the battle, just think it is a phase they go through.

 

[monarchsfan16]

It's a typical teen thing. I'm 19. Hated wearing my coat, throughout high school. Senior year I'd just wear bulky sweatshirts and leave my coat in the car for the day, most days. I'm now in my first year of college. I wear a coat now It may take awhile, but she'll learn. Heck, I'm still learning to put on gloves. I usually don't wear those until my hands get so dried out that they're cracked and bleeding. But I'm getting better about it. But I will tell you, that by just wearing a sweatshirt I never froze. I was just going from car to school, or house to car. But then again, my blood is about as thick as it comes. When it did get too cold, I put on a coat. I'd be willing to bet that if you drove by her school, you wouldn't find many kids wearing coats.

 

[poohbears5]

My kids complain its too cramped on the bus and wearing coat makes it worse.

 

[hemispheredancer]

My DD11 doesn't gripe about the coat. She gripes about not "needing" to wear hat and gloves. I think in 5th grade they are too cool to wear that stuff!! So, I let her freeze. Not worth my time or energy arguing with her. Sometimes you have to pick your battles!

 

[golfgal]

DS13 will wear a coat but not zipped and no gloves or hat, we are in Minnesota. Looking around the middle school, that seems to be the norm, either kids with just hoodies on or if they have a coat, not zipped NEVER a hat or mittens/gloves. I just tell DS that I don't want to hear it when his fingers freeze and break off.

 

[debster812]

This is SO not a battle that is worth fighting to me.

DS is the same way, he has always 'Run Hot', and really only needs his warm winter coat when it is sub-zero temps, or if he's out playing in the snow for a long time.

I don't fuss about it. He'll wear a heavy hoody, hat, and gloves, a fleece jacket, or some such.

When he's cold, he knows to put on the 'big coat'.

 

[luvwinnie]

My sister had to drag my 18 yr old niece to get a coat last week before going back to college...then she called yesterday and said "It's 65 degrees at her school today."

 

[Missy1961]

I just had this 'battle' with my 7 yr old niece on Sunday. We were going out for a walk to get pizza for lunch, and she decided that her sweat shirt was enough. I knew that even though it was sunny, the wind was gusty. So I made a deal with her--I would put her sweat shirt in my back pack, she would wear her jacket, and if she really was warm, I'd let her switch (and I'd even carry the jacket). So we left the house. At first she complained about "I'm so hot, I'm sweating", but when that first gust of cold wind hit her (when we turned the corner), she changed her tune real fast!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Once they hit middle school and don't go out for recess I ended that battle.

 

[Maleficent13]

Anyone know why wearing a coat is "uncool" or is that just a universal mystery of teenhood?

I doubt it'll be a battle I'll fight.

 

[MamaLema]

Not worth the battle.

Let her wear 3 hoodies

 

[sweet angel]

I did that argument last year. This year, if he wants to freeze, I'm going to let him. Sometimes he wears a hoodie, sometimes he'll wear his leather jacket. I'm not going to argue.

 

[CathrynRose]

Do you struggle with your kids to wear coats? Is this something I should fuss over or let her freeze? Maybe she really doesn't mind the cold and it is just me? What to do.

Neither of my kids wears coats - both do the hoodie thing. Occasionally the younger guy will put one on - but rarely.

I figure theyre old enough to determine how cold they are.

And half the time if I look outside, when theyre playing football or something, theyre coatless - hoodiless - only a t-shirt on.... and this is in 30 degree weather. Theyre still alive.

If they wanna be nut-balls and not wear coats - not my booty thats gonna be cold all day long. And quite frankly, theyre never (knock on wood) ever, ever sick. Go figure...maybe all that cold air kills the germs?

And - I rarely wear a coat - so who am I to tell 'em???

 

[gr8tpanther]

OK battle DONE! I get tired of fighting about it. Glad it isn't JUST me.

 

[miss missy]

Hey there

Been there done that I raised on teen who wouldn't wear a coat... I learned to pick my battles and that isn't one of them. Now my teen to be DD12 wont wear one either LOL... I don't fight her on it. I dont wear them either, car to house to work to car ... nah I hate them, so I can't blame her. She has to walk outside from building to building at school and STILL doesn't wear it. Oh well... doesn't bother her, doesn't bother me.

Now talk rain... oh she insists she MUST have an umbrella... don't wanna get that hair messed up Oh they are just silly aren't they!

 

[daisyduck123]

It's a typical teen thing.

No, it's not just a teen thing. I teach in an elementary school & at recess you would not believe the pile of coats that are on the ground. We make the kids bring them outside but once outside, many of them throw them by the lunchbox pile.

 

[teacherforhi]

It may be more than just a teen thing. Our students aren't allowed to wear coats to class. They can wear sweatshirts and the hoodies, but thick coats have to be kept in their lockers. So unless they have a long wait at the bus stop, most of our students don't wear coats to school. It's just easier.

 

[Blondy876]

I am 31 and very rarely will I wear a coat. If it is bitter cold or if I will be outside for a while I will. Oh, and of course I will wear one when I know I will be seeing my Dad so he won't say "Where's your coat young lady?"

My kids don't put up a fight yet but when they do I will probably not fight too much. They will learn their lesson when they get cold.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

There are only a few times when I have the coats battle. When they are little and in preschool and the preschool teacher thinks I'm negligent if the child doesn't at least being a coat, then I have them bring (didn't say wear...) a coat. When they are in elem school and have recess I have them wear a coat so it will be there in case they need it at recess (don't care if they wear it during recess, but want them to have it just in case) and when we are going in the car in very cold weather I insist that they bring a coat. Don't care if they wear it, but just in case the car breaks down, we are in an accident, etc I want them to have access to it. That about covers it, no pun intended!