Last weekend was wonderful. It felt like spring, and Saturday was dry and warm enough to bundle up in some jackets and head to the park. Am I the only one disappointed that our early spring couldn’t last a few more weeks...say until April? I know my daughters agree with me, but my husband is actually celebrating the return of winter. In fact, he’s doing snow dances around the front yard, hoping I think for one last chance to go sledding this year. Little man is stomping around beside him, firmly convinced that daddy knows best.

Earlier this week we were talking about the weather. I was irritated that I had to scrape my windshield off and put on the bulky winter coat again. He gently pointed out that it was February in Indiana, which I found less than comforting or helpful in any way. Then he went on to tell me he enjoys winter and doesn’t really understand how people who have lived here for years and years can still complain about the cold. I threw a couch pillow at him and promptly changed the subject, but what he said stuck with me. We spend a quarter of every year in winter weather...why do so many us dislike it so much?

The answer to that question hit me not twenty minutes later while listening to my children complain of being bored and watching them bounce off the furniture. The cold is uncomfortable but it’s not the major factor in our dislike for the snowy season. It’s the boredom. If you’re living on a budget, you can’t go to the movies, go bowling, or do any of those other indoor activities every single day that it’s cold outside. Looking at the forecast for the next few weeks, I think I can safely say winter hasn’t quite lost its grip on Marion yet, so here are a few tips and tricks for escaping cabin fever without spending a dime.

1. Bundle Up. That’s right, brave the elements and head outside. If you have kids or a dog, they’d love to run around outdoors.

2. Break out the games! If you have board games, dice, or a deck of cards, you have hours of entertainment ahead of you. Okay, I’ll admit there’s a certain age restriction on this one, but even Little Man enjoys sitting on my lap and holding some playing cards.

3. Get creative. I love Sorry and Uno as much as anybody, but sometimes you just need to move and going outside isn’t an option. Make an obstacle course, enjoy some balloon volleyball, or build a fort. 

4. Have a favorite book? Read it again. If you have a group of kids to entertain, act out the story. It doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be fun!

5. Have an indoor movie night. Most of us have a movie or two that we haven’t watched in a long time. Break out the popcorn and enjoy!

I can’t wait for warmer weather, but in the meantime, I’m going to make the most of winter. I’m Claire, the Afena blog mom. Thanks for reading.