Live each season as it passes…

By Lena Trondson • March 14, 2009

What a gorgeous day we had today! After what feels like months and months of winter and freezing cold, we had a real preview of spring. The temperature reached as high as 45 degrees Fahrenheit (about 7.5 Celsius) and the sun was out all day long.

It felt good with the warm sun hitting our faces.

We decided to take advantage of the wonderful weather and went with Linn to the Dakota zoo since we have a family membership. It was pretty busy there today and most of the animals were out and available to see for the kids. Linn actually was more thrilled about walking everywhere and playing with the snow and the puddles of water that was left after the melted snow rather than look at the animals. We were there for over an hour and a half and our baby girl was so tired on the way home.

I just realized that this is my fourth winter here in North Dakota and it was the coldest, snowiest, and longest winter that I can remember. The state of ND is wonderful and I think it is a great place to raise a young child. The summers are beautiful, warm, and fun-filled. However, the winters can be horrible and they feel so long…and dark….and cold…I guess I just have to balance and enjoy the best parts of each season. I am more of a fall gal myself but do appreciate every season. It kind of reminds me of the seasons in Sweden when I was growing up. Our winters were so much fun and filled with snow. All the kids in my neighborhood would go outside and build snow forts, have snow ball fights, ride snow sleds, and make snow angels for hours at a time.

Our lips would turn blue and we would shiver to the bones but no one really noticed.

We didn’t go back inside until our parents forced us inside for supper and hot chocolate. The summers were almost the same but warmer, of course. The same kids from the neighborhood would go outside and play softball (brannboll), play red and white rose (rodavita rosen), play jump scotch, and run in the woods for entire days. Those were some really good and fun times.

Today, children want playstation, Xbox, DVD, and all kinds of technology and other toys. It is a contest of who has the most and the most expensive stuff. I never really got much of anything new growing up as the youngest of five children. I got my sister’s hand me down clothes and toys. I sometimes gave my parents grief for not having the coolest, newest converse, or Takano sweat pants but I just as soon forgot about it.

I want my daughter to grow up with the same mentality.

I want her to appreciate the things that she does have and not worry about the things that other kids have. Life is so much more than what’s new and hot and cool. I realize that I can’t totally ignore the fact that children can be mean and tease other children for not having the newest toys or clothes. I am just saying that I will not overindulge and find a good balance.

“Live each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each.” ~ Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)