This morning, the kids insisted on going to the playground. I told them it was too hot outside to go, and my son says, “It’s not too hot, Mom, it’s just a little bit hot.”
As a woman who doesn’t sweat properly (I have Hay Wells Syndrome, to learn more, visit http://nfed.org), I knew it would be torturous, but, I also know that I need to let Mister, who doesn’t sweat (he also has Hay Wells Syndrome), learn and set his own limits when it is hot outside.
So, I filled a MistyMate and we walked across the field to the playground.
They both went down the slide twice.
Twice.
He tried to climb the jungle gym.
Then, from Mister… “Hey Mom, we need to go home, it is a lot a bit hot.”
For Mister, one of the first signs that he is overheating is that his ears turn red (flushed). It’s like there is a little fire in them!
Needless to say we walked back across the field to the comfort of central air. Well, I walked, and they were carried.
Perhaps the next time they will believe me when I say it is too hot to go to the playground.
In the mean time, I will be soaking up the central air, and hoping this heat induced headache goes away quickly.
That letting them learn thing sure is hard huh! I was ready to order cooling vests, ice pillows, you name it and then learned if we keep him in a bubble, he will never learn to manage on his own! Kindergarten starts in two weeks..sure am nervous about the playground and such. Lane is pretty quiet around people he does not know so I am worried too that he might be too shy to call attention to himself! Heaven help us!!!
I don’t know how you are managing in the crazy heat we have been having lately. It’s great that he realized his limits though!
You are a great mom!
Thanks so much, Jodi! You know I value your opinion, so this just made me grin like the Cheshire cat!
Daphne- we do have a cooling vest and all that jazz, which is great to have for when we don’t have the option of coming right back inside. But yes, letting them learn their own limits is tough. While we were at the conference, Z overheated, and when I asked him why he didn’t tell someone he was getting too hot, he said, “Because you weren’t there, Mommy.” I’ve been telling him, “You need to tell Mommy when you are getting too hot.” That helped me realize I need to teach him “tell an adult when you are getting too hot” so that he feels comfortable telling others, as well.
We spend a LOT of time indoors and I get the kids up extra early and let them play outdoors before the temp soars!
I love this post! Allowing Zane to learn his own limits is great. We do the same for Najah. She wanted to join a track club. I was so afraid for her because I knew it would be HOT!! She ran two laps around the track and said it is too hot. She never asked to go back. It was so nice seeing you and your family again. Stay blessed!!
Please take care dear FB Friend.
I just can’t imagine not being able to sweat. But good for you for letting him figure out his limits on his own.
I am all about the A/C – glad he figured out when enough was enough!
Thanks, Jan!
It’s one of the hardest things, as a parent. But, my Mom did the same with me. When the doctor said I couldn’t run track because of the insufficient sweat, Mom let me join the track team. She stood on the side lines and cried, wring her hands, as I crossed the finish line on the mile!
A few more minutes, and I would have forced them to come in, but I am glad that he recognized his limit!
I do like you and let my kids learn natural consequences (within reason) Letting them going out without a coat on a cold day teaches them better then me grumbling at them.
I think it’s been a particularly brutal summer in terms of heat!
I know, right? I had to learn that with the gloves over the winter. I could complain until I was blue in the face, but it wasn’t until I let them stick their hands in snow without gloves that they both realized the need for them. LOL.
It certainly has been brutal!
And, it’s already in the 80s here now. We didn’t have a winter. I hate to think what they will not be able to to this year due to the heat. Hopefully they can get in some outside play before it’s too hot where you live.
It’s always nice to know that your children know their limits and know when it’s ‘a lot a bit hot’.