Weather...

OK, as winter is now getting ready to come to Cookeville, it seems like a good time to mention a few Fact List facts about the weather and related temperatures. This is a topic of much discussion with kids and their usual complete disregard for cooler weather.

There is the much used Fact List fact:

A sweater is what a kid puts on when the parent is cold

BUT, there are some much finer derivations to this fact. When kids are younger you can "enforce" these facts but as they get older and think (of all things) that they have a life of their own, it gets to be more problematic.

So here are some of the Fact List facts about weather:

Temperatures above 70 - Kids can wear short sleeve shirts
Temperatures below 60 - Kids need to wear sweaters or jackets and sensible shoes
Temperatures toward 50 or below - Kids need to wear a good coat

OK, OK, OK as you can see, there are some gaps in these facts. This sometimes can lead to a ruling or judgement call by the parent. What if it is 65 outside...between the 60 and 70 facts. At this point you can get discussions and even some "rebellion" brewing.
You hear things like:
"But Daddy, if I have to wear a long sleeve shirt, I am going to "roast"..."
"Lee, honestly, I don't see why you have to have these silly rules, it is a beautiful day and I think the kids can wear short sleeves..."
(mmmfph...)

So, at this point you start taking the specific conditions into effect. It may be 65 but what is the wind like... So, being the considerate parent you make a "judgement" call and say:
"OK, since there is no wind today, the "feels like temperature" is a little warmer. If you take that into consideration and understand that the wind chill is not a factor, then you could probably get by with a short sleeve shirt, but..."

Now, as soon as the kids found that you were beginning to cave on the "short sleeve shirt fact" they knew they had you. Along about the words "since there is no wind today...", you would hear:
"Hey, we can wear short sleeve shirts today..."
"Yea..., I was going to anyway..."
"What happened, did Mom yell at Dad..."
"Yea, she did but he was starting to cave anyway..."
"Hey, how about wearing shorts, too... MOM, can we..."

(MMMMFPH...)

(More weather Fact List facts next...)

The Dad