I thought I was doing so well this year. The girls' winter coates were washed and hung in the closests, all ready for next year. Then spring was taken away and replaced by winter once again. I struggle with do I make Brenna put the winter coat back on? Thankfully my girls are young. If you tell them to grab their coat, they do. I actually had to tell her to take her coat off a week ago when it was warm out and she didn't need it. Talk about mixed messages!

I clearly remember refusing to wear a hat in the winter. We lived in the Red River Valley where there was nothing to block the wind, but there was no way I was going to flatten my hair with a hat. Half the time my hair was still wet as I ran up the driveway to catch the bus. But it doesn't stop me from being horrified when I seek teens walk to the bus, in Feb/March in shorts and a sweatshirt. It's February in MN!

My youngest son is 10. He doesn't have a problem wearing his coat yet. I actually had to tell him he didn't need to wear it a few days. My daughter is 11 and started trying to get out of the house in a tank top & sweatshirt many times this winter. I know I was not her favorite on the days I made her get a coat on. I am thankful the "trend" is to have flattened hair, so putting hats on her is very easy.

My oldest son is 26. In the last few years I notice he's had gloves, hats, boots and a winter coat. I remember when he was a teen, I bought him black Sorel boots that he refused to wear. I still have those boots & very glad they fit me. My 10 & 11 yr olds can also wear those same boots.

Like Jodi, I can remember going to the bus stop with my hair wet too. I grew up on the Jersey Shore and headed to school without a hat, jacket and gloves many times. Even tho "below zero" temps were rare, it was still cold as we had plenty of wind from the ocean.

We recently bought a thermometer that reads indoor and outdoor temps. It has a digital person that lets you know how to "dress" for going outside. The more items this digital person has on, the colder it is outside. I found it funny that my daughter is now taking the advice of this computerized figure before heading out the door. Not sure how long this "fun" will last, but I'll enjoy not having to battle about a coat for the time being.

I tell my 12 year old boy to wear a coat and when he says no, I say don't complain when you get cold, and he does'nt. It is all about living with the decisions you make.

My children have no arguments for me when I tell them to dress for the weather. They seem to trust what I tell them and hopefully that will last for years to come. I don't think there is ever an age where children should be able to go without a jacket in the winter. It's cold! Dressing for the weather is important and I think it's important to teach that to your children. You never know when their bus might break down, the car might break down or something else. Safety first I always say!