March 2018 SOLC–Day 29
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Mainers are a hardy breed. The sun comes out in winter and shorts appear. It’s slightly insane. Below is one of my favorite early spring beach pictures. Outside of the camera shot, visitors’ attire ranged from full Arctic to flip flops, shorts and T-shirts. Clearly the parents of these two intrepid kids are masters of compromise. Their children are suitably attired up top for warmth and from the waist down for a bit of spring fun, Maine-style! This isn’t an uncommon sight. After seemingly-endless, dark winters, we’re all too ready to throw off the shackles of heavy socks, boots and long underwear.
Once the temperatures start to edge up, there’s an ongoing coat battle with fourth graders. The sun comes out and they do NOT want to wear a coat to recess. Even though it’s 30 degrees with a 15 mph wind. Often I check the temperature or the wind chill to bolster my “Yes, you have to wear your coat” position.
Yesterday, as we were lining up, a staff member stopped by. Knowing he monitored recess each day, I asked, “What’s it like outside?”
“It’s nice,” he enthused. “I think it’s close to 50 now!”
His words rippled through the room, setting off a tsunami of joyful whoops and cries.
“50!”
“Woohoo! 50!”
“It’s 50 out!”
Our line disintegrated into happy chaos as kids ripped off their coats and dashed out of line to throw them with wild abandon back into their cubbies.
“Did you hear that!? It’s 50 out! You don’t have to take a coat!”
Their smiles were as dazzling as the spring-ish sunshine.
We managed to reorganized into a sort-of line and walk down the long hallways without totally disgracing ourselves. We pushed open the doors to nirvana, aka the playground, and the kids burst through, a geyser of energy and enthusiasm.
C. rushed out, threw her arms up in the air and yelled, “It’s stinkin’ 50 degrees!”, then raced off over the snow piles to play.
I had to laugh. Only in Maine does 50 degrees generate such excitement.
Nix the comfort zone 
“A geyser of energy” I love that line. I can picture the kids’ excitement. Here in PA 50 is a cause for celebration too. It’s been a long winter!
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We hit at least 51 degrees today! Yahoo!!
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I adore this line: “the kids burst through, a geyser of energy and enthusiasm.” I’m oh so familiar with those coat battles. I finally gave up at home where my own boys are in MS & HS. But I actually smiled biggest when you joined your students’ enthusiasm.
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At recess two boys lay on the tar basking in the sun with their coats under their heads as pillows. Too funny!
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I love “opening the doors to nirvana”! It’s so true! You captured Spring in Maine so well! Today it’s going to be 51…..
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It was precisely 51 degrees on the car thermometer as I headed home. Unfortunately, the clouds rolled in before I could sit and enjoy my sheltered spring spot. Still, spring’s definitely on its way!
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Yup – you captured it. I grew up in South Carolina, but I’m raising my kids in Ontario. They dress like the children in the picture, and I know that their teachers are constantly fighting the battle of the coats. I love your lines describing the kids as they head out “We pushed open the doors to nirvana, aka the playground, and the kids burst through, a geyser of energy and enthusiasm.” and I laughed out loud as they headed through the “warmth” to play in the snow piles. This is exactly my children. They could be in your class. (Now wouldn’t that be awesome?) Enjoy the spring!
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I will definitely enjoy the spring–I’m breaking out the capris tomorrow as temps are headed to the mid-50s! On another note, you must have had quite an adjustment moving from South Carolina to Ontario!
PS–That would be awesome!
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Seeing this little snippet into your life with 4th graders brings me joy. Yes, 50 degrees here in S. LA is cold. 30 is cold, cold. I understand that desire to take coats off and walk with your toes in the water!
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Sadly, the ocean water never really warms up this far north. It’s fun to watch the kids dip their toes in, but I’m not too tempted.
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50 is cause for celebration! It has been a long, frigid winter for you guys!
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There’s still snow on the ground, but it’s disappearing at a good clip.
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50 is our cut off here in WI. also. Your 4th graders conversations made me miss my students.
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Isn’t it amazing how warm 50 can feel? lol
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“His words rippled through the room, setting off a tsunami of joyful whoops and cries.” What a fabulous line! The water words work beautifully with the opening pic! That March sun makes 59 feel marvelous! What a fun slice! Thanks for sharing!
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59! Lucky you! It’s supposed to be in the upper 50s tomorrow. I’m counting on it and baring my ankles! It’s like a seasonal rite of passage!
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You certainly captured the heartiness of northerners. It was in the 50s here today too. The kids still had fun in the snow!
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Mid to high fifties are forecast here today. I can’t wait!!
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