In child rearing, as in everything else, it pays to pick your battles.

One of the battles I chose for many years was over my son’s clothes. Call me stupid (and he did, often, under his breath) but I think when it’s below 50 degrees outside, one should wear long pants, a long shirt, sturdy shoes and a warm jacket. My son disagreed.

“I’m not cold!” he would shout at me, and I would shout back with the utmost parental concern: “I don’t care if you’re cold or not! I don’t want people to think I’m a bad mother!”

This year, I gave in. I figured that at 17, he looked old enough to take the blame for his clothing choices himself. And so, every day this winter, he set out for school in shorts, a T-shirt, canvas shoes and a thin hoodie. I closed my eyes and pretended not to see.

In January, I thought I had the last laugh. Only three pairs of his shorts fit anymore, and nobody was selling them that time of year. I figured that would force him into long pants, but no, he just did his laundry more often.

You win some and you lose some, and I’d chalk this one up as a loss. We’re going shopping as soon as the spring clothes come in.

Weather Journal

12 hours ago