Moms Talk: Ditching the Jacket

The prospect of more snow in the Twin Cities this week doesn't exactly scream spring.

It's always a battle to make your teenagers and children wear jackets, but the fight gets even more difficult in the spring, when see-sawing temperatures mean you could be sunbathing one week, and wearing mittens the next.

Teenagers may be the biggest coat-fighting culprits, but the battle to keep kids warm is an issue no matter the age. And our local Moms Council members aren't the only ones who have participated in the struggle.

As part of an article on the subject, National Public Radio talked to parents about  the difficulties they had coaxing their children into coats. They also spoke to experts about the behavioral and wellness implications of coat-wearing. The New York Times' parenting writer blogged about arguments she had with her teenage son over wearing a coat, even when it's 14 degrees with a frosty wind chill.

Do your kids fight you about wearing a coat? What's the substance of the argument—it doesn't look cool, it's warm enough outside? How do you handle the issue with children of different ages, and with different weather conditions? Does the battle extend to any other areas of family life?

Post your thoughts, advice or questions in the comments section below. Also, if you live in the area and are interested in joining Eagan's Moms Council, email Editor Jennifer Pfeffer at jennifer.pfeffer@patch.com.