Embrace the Cold, Eh!

Photo Courtesy: Unsplash

Having lived the majority of my life in dry, tropical weather, anything below 16°C is brutally cold for me. I need my sweaters and throws, mittens and socks for anything below 16°C. You’ll see me snuggled up, not ready to leave my favorite corner of my couch, munching away (because winter makes me hangry). The Canadian winter is a rollercoaster of snow, slush, and smiles (for some, not for me)! It tested my perseverance and every bit of patience, but I came out of it quite proud of myself. From braving school drops during a snowstorm to slipping and sliding on slushy trails, your girl did it all.

Amongst all this chaos, my sweet little boy started kindergarten. Little N is a friendly guy, but he transitions very slowly to changes. As much as he was excited for this new phase, he kept telling me how nervous he was. Starting school was a big transition for him, and to make things a tad bit easier, we took the same approach as we did for his first ever long-haul flight (Don’t remember? Here you go). We read books, we shopped for school supplies together, we even took him to his school one evening, and we talked about how exciting school is and how we made some lifelong friends from school. My husband and I were emotional wrecks. Tackling a lot of emotions at the same time, did take a toll on me. New city, job hunt, new job, my little boy transitioning to kindergarten and all the new viruses he was getting exposed to, treating a sick kid over and over again, trying to settle down in a new city, fighting all these emotions - can I say the worst is behind? Or is it too early? I still feel anxious, and I panic at the drop of a hat.

Little N accustomed to his new phase quite well. Hearing about his day at school is now one of my favorite activities of the day. The walk from his bus stop to our condo is filled with stories of how he had a great day at school and all the new things he learned. My little boy was exploring the world without me holding his hands. He has an amaaazziinnggg teacher that I can’t thank enough. The amount of patience and dedication he puts forward for all his students is impeccable. How I wish I had teachers like him in school. Teachers who love what they do. Teaching is indeed an act of love, which not everyone is lucky to experience.

Back to my winter story, even though I enjoyed Little N’s stories on my walk back home, I was fighting every snow pile on the road wearing layers and layers of clothing. A jacket as heavy as me, gloves, and beanies made it a lot easier to be patient as a saint and lend an ear (“Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit but the highest form of intelligence”- Oscar Wilde). Who needs a morning workout when you can perform Olympic-level slaloms through snowdrifts to reach the bus stop on time? But I did love shopping for the cold. Canadian winter fashion is all about finding that delicate balance between looking fabulous and avoiding frostbite. Let’s be real: no one looks like a fashion icon in a parka that could house an entire family of polar bears, but people here wear puffy coats with a lot of pride, and so did I. Once that is sorted, the hunt begins for the perfect pair of winter boots that are also waterproof. The search for the Holy Grail may be a tad bit easier. When you manage to find that perfect winter ensemble, it’s time to strut your stuff and walk like a penguin.

Photo Courtesy: Marco Vella via Unsplash

All geared up, we managed to explore different parts of the city as well. From visiting beautiful Christmas markets to trail walks in slush to exploring the majestic Niagara Falls and the beautiful Blue Mountains, we embraced the snow as we fell on our bums over and over again. I write this on a warm, sunny day in July, which means – Winter is Coming. Wish me luck!