Today, I found myself kicking aside a coat that wasn’t mine nor belonged to my child. It wasn’t out of annoyance; I was simply trying to lend a hand to another parent who, like me, is exasperated when their child returns home without yet another piece of winter clothing. Yes, it’s officially that time of year again—the dreaded season of lost jackets, hats, gloves, and boots.
If my action had any ill intent, it was directed at the child who left that coat abandoned in a bustling school corridor. I watched it slide down the hall, evading its owner as both kids and adults maneuvered around it, unwittingly shoving it further away from where it belonged.
On a normal day, I would’ve picked up the coat, searched for a name tag, and returned it to the rightful hook. However, I’m currently recovering from surgery, which means my energy and mobility are limited. The best I could do was halt the coat’s journey toward the Lost & Found, a place I’ve come to know all too well. There is something bewildering about seeing lunch boxes, jeans, and glasses all sitting together among sweatshirts and hats. Seriously, how do you lose a pair of jeans? And what kind of scenario leads to someone finding your glasses instead of you?
Recently, I longed for my son’s fall jacket, which he carelessly left on a picnic table during recess. It ended up on the ground, drenched from the rain for two days before it was finally tossed onto a fence post, where it froze overnight. My son swore he looked “everywhere” but somehow missed his own coat after passing by it twice a day for several days.
The first chilly morning of the season always catches me off guard. Gone are the carefree days of shorts and t-shirts; suddenly, I’m scrambling through bins in the basement for winter gear that likely doesn’t fit anymore. I’m on a quest to find six gloves that can form three pairs for my three kids, who believe their fingers won’t get cold during recess or after-school care. My efforts often feel wasted since one of them will inevitably choose shorts anyway. I shove pants and a coat into a backpack, hoping they’ll figure it out when they feel the chill.
This is just the start of a long slog filled with reminders and nagging to get my kids to look after their belongings. I’m not sure I have it in me to keep this up. I can’t afford to keep replacing items, even when I find them secondhand. They need warm clothing, and I need to stop feeling personally attacked by the weekly emails from school reminding parents to send kids in appropriate winter attire. I promise I’m trying!
I label everything, offer organizational systems, and ask my kids what could help them keep track of their things. Yet, it seems there are no solutions. They are somehow capable of losing a single boot while coming home with someone else’s. It’s like I’m searching for money I should have thrown away. Soon, they might just have to wear bread bags over their feet like I did as a kid.
At times, they return with snow pants that are not only the wrong size but also the wrong color. “Honey, those are bright pink, and yours are black.” What on earth distracted them enough to make this mistake? It’s wild how they can complain about a speck of pepper in their scrambled eggs but remain completely unfazed by snow pants that restrict circulation.
As the cold and darkness of this season sets in, I’m reminded of how my kids leave their hats and gloves behind in some untraceable location. I send them off to school wearing backup hats that barely fit anymore, as their heads have grown, yet their ability to keep track of their belongings hasn’t.
To all the fellow parents out there, good luck. Let’s support one another through this chaotic time. I promise to do my best to return any of your kids’ lost items that wander into my house. There’s a good chance my child will borrow it until we find theirs, but I’ll ensure it’s well taken care of. I trust you’ll do the same.
May fortune smile upon us all this winter season.
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Summary
The article humorously explores the frustrations of dealing with lost winter gear as kids return home without their jackets, hats, or gloves. The author shares personal experiences of searching for items, the chaos of getting children ready for winter, and the camaraderie among parents facing similar challenges.