Embracing the Suck

As WordPress continues to recycle old prompts, I pulled another prompt from The Coffee Monsterz Co to respond to today

I’ve been hitting with some pretty hard topics lately, so I’m gonna take it a little bit easier today:

I wish I didn’t have to …

I wish I didn’t have to shovel snow!

I’ve mentioned my utter disdain for winter on this blog before. It goes back to being a kid: summer vacation was the ultimate endgame, and school meant winter was coming. Winter meant being buried. As an adult, that evolved into seasonal depression. I’ve gotten pretty good at keeping it in check lately, and honestly, I’m amazed I’m in as good spirits as I am.

I’m no meteorologist, but southeastern Michigan has been hit hard and early. We’ve already had a few snow days, and with a “polar vortex” in the forecast, I might be looking at a Friday off. Today was another one of those surprise storms. To quote Marty McFly: “Since when can a weatherman predict the weather, let alone the future?”

The Seasonal Struggle is Real

Despite the shoveling, I’m doing well. I do feel for Kid One, though. He’s in Madison, Wisconsin, getting his first real experience with a true winter after growing up in South Carolina. I’ve been giving him all the advice I can—mostly reminding him to stay social and not let the elements bring him to a standstill. I even tried sending him a UV lamp (the same kind I use, which my classroom co-teacher loved so much she bought them for her whole family!). It’s about not letting the weather dictate your mental state.

The Wisconsin Connection & The Unified Front

Helping him navigate this has also highlighted a major “Unexpected Win”: the unified front X1 and I have maintained. Our co-parenting shift really started back in 2020 when Kid One was famously the first child in his county to contract COVID. Since then, as he’s grown independent and the court orders and child support have faded into the rearview, we’ve both matured. We’ve finally reached a place where we just realize we both have his best interests at heart.

Thawing Out in Detroit

That sense of “thawing out” applies to my personal life, too. Veronica and I have been hitting outdoor events in Rochester, and we might head to Detroit for an ice festival this weekend. It’s still not exactly “my cup of tea,” but there is a real sense of accomplishment in getting out there.

Usually, our routine involves finding a place for dinner to start the warming-up process. By the time I get home, I’m worn out—but it’s a “good tired.” It’s an alternative to sitting in front of the TV and letting the season swallow me whole. I’m not about to take up cross-country skiing, but it’s time to embrace the weather and enjoy it as much as I can. For better or for worse.

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The article “Embracing the Sucky” first appeared on Rebuilding Rob.

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