Surviving March Break

At a local indoor playground

Enjoying March Break

A few weeks ago, I came across a headline in a family-oriented newsletter that I receive. It read: "How to Survive March Break." I did not bother reading the article as I mistakingly thought I did not have to deal with March Break for another few years...

Then, just two weeks ago, I overheard some chatter about March Break at the local YMCA.  I inquired if preschool was off for a week, and was surprised to find out that I would be home all week with my two lovely daughters! Since when do preschoolers need March Break, I thought to myself...In fact the YMCA hosts a March Break camp for older kids that are off school and needed the extra space.

On Monday, we ventured out with the double stroller for the first time in a long time. I timed the outing to coincide with the baby's nap time, and after putting up a bit of a fuss, she slept soundly. My toddler enjoyed the outing, but insisted we pick up some stickers before heading home. The afternoon went by surprisingly quickly, and before I knew it, my husband was home.

On Tuesday, we met my cousin and her two daughters at an indoor park in the West Island. I timed our arrival with the opening of the park, so as to avoid the large March Break crowds. It worked out well as we were the only ones there for almost an hour. And just when it started to get busy, we headed home. The baby slept on the car ride home, and once again, the afternoon went by quickly. After dinner, I took our toddler for a swim at a local indoor pool that I had just discovered. She had a great swim, jumped in about 50 times, and fell asleep quickly that night.

Wednesday went by very quickly. For the fist time since returning from maternity leave, I was working  during the week. My shift started at noon. We went out with the stroller in the morning, and once again, the baby fell asleep. We picked up some stickers on the way home. My mom had come over to help watch the kids, and I left at 11:30. I arrived home shortly after 20h, and both kids were asleep. Exhausted,  our toddler had fallen asleep very early, allowing my husband to easily put the baby to sleep. I should do more of theses 12-20h shifts, I thought to myself.

On Thursday, we headed to another indoor park, this one closer to our home. The girls enjoyed themselves, and once again, we left just as it was getting busy. The baby briefly slept on the way home.  That afternoon, we went out with the stroller, and not surprisingly, both girls fell asleep. Our toddler had woken up at 5:30 that morning, no doubt because of the early night she had had the previous night...

On Friday, I met my cousin and her two daughters at yet another indoor park. This park was much larger than the other two, but I thought that by arriving early, we would once again avoid the crowds. I knew I had been mistaken as we drove up to the parking lot. Even though the amusement centre had just opened, the line-up extended outdoors. Although the girls seemed to enjoy themselves, the park was enormous, making it very easy to lose sight of the girls. Thankfully, I only lost my toddler briefly, and for less than a minute. The place was a veritable zoo, and I could not wait to leave.

Perhaps next year we will plan a family trip during March Break...

Blanche Neige

Our baby lounging in her stroller

Two weeks ago, we had warmer than average weather in Montreal.  I believe we actually reached a high of 10C!  I dusted off our daughter's stroller, and we had our first outing with the carriage since early December.  You might ask yourself why I had stopped using the stroller.  Don't most babies love the gentle vibration proffered by a carriage in motion?  Yes, but not our adorable Brat.  In September 2010, I had registered for a mother-baby exercise class involving strollers.  We would meet the instructor just a few minutes from my house along the Lachine Canal, and with a group of about ten other mothers and their babies, jog, stretch and chat as we navigated the bicycle path.  Within a few minutes, all of the other babies were sound asleep.  The Brat was calm, but not asleep for approximately the first 15 minutes...then she would start whining.  The whining then gave way to tears.  Each class ended with some 15 minutes of isometric exercises and stretching.  At this point, if I did not remove my baby from the carriage, everyone would stare.  They were doubtless wondering what method of torture I was inflicting on the baby, because she was no longer simply crying, she was now wailing.  So out of the carriage came the baby; and the tears would instantly cease.  She did not mind being held, or placed in a forward facing baby carrier, but she was happiest on my exercise mat, where she would crawl around.  I assumed that my baby was particularly active, and did not want to sit still for any length of time.  Suffice it to say, we did not really enjoy the course as much as I had anticipated.  The last class took place in early December; the path along the canal was now snow covered, and not easy to navigate, even with our heavy duty stroller.  I decided to store the stroller in our garage as I had simply had enough of the baby's whining.  In hindsight, I am surprised that I stuck it out for the duration of the course!

The 10C weather of two weeks ago prompted me to give the stroller another go.  I wasn't holding out much hope, but much to my delight my daughter seemed to thoroughly enjoy our outing.  So much so that since then, she attempts to climb into her stroller multiple times a day; she then grabs the straps, and indicates that we should buckle her in and take her out.  At your service Brat!  So we enjoyed a few lovely days outdoors, and then mother nature decided that it was time for some more snow.  We actually got stuck in a snow storm just last week.  The weather, until a few days ago, has been below 0C, and once again we find ourselves indoors.  Environment Canada actually issued a snowfall warning in the Montreal region on the first full day of Spring!

Our cold winter prompted a lengthy discussion about moving to a location with a warmer climate.  Until this last winter, I had not really felt restricted by the cold weather.  With the exception of snow storms, I would jog outdoors five days a week.  However with the baby in tow, it was a different story.  She disliked her stroller, and I found it difficult to keep her warm without the protective environment of the carriage.  Here is a list of alternative warmer-weather locations that I proposed:

-Vancouver.  Main advantage we would still be in Canada.  But what about all the rain?, my husband asked.
-Dubai.  Living income tax-free has it's definite advantages,  but would we both be able to secure work, and what about the scorching hot days of the desert summers?
-Melbourne, Australia.  My husband's company has an office there, but would I find a job as easily?
-Denver, Colorado.  My husband's company also has an office there, and their winters are much warmer than ours, but is living in the USA really that simple?

We are open to suggestions.  Do you live in a child-friendly, warm climate location that you would recommend?

My guess is that we will remain in Montreal for the time being, and that as the Brat grows up, the winters will become more tolerable.