Rookie Mama: Forward, March -- In like a lion, roaring through that slump

By Michelle Cote
The Rookie Mama

February vacation traditionally marks the penultimate chapter to welcoming spring thaw. Giddy with anticipation, we wait. Our family stands in readiness for our garden seed delivery from our favorite farm, dreaming about organizing and sorting the little white-and-green labeled packets that bring sheer Christmas-morning-style joy as we prepare for another season growing greens.

This vacation also offers the opportunity for a pre-spring cleaning of sorts; we’ve developed a joyful tradition of rifling through gift cards collecting dust and using them as a frugal living spending spree-palooza of sorts.

On other February break days, we explore Maine’s outdoors, magnificent to behold as we traverse frozen lakes and take in spectacular snow-covered views, enjoying the powder fresh sledding and other winter sports afforded to us just by living here and stepping out.

More frugal living benefits for the win.

Lastly, we fill in the blank days using passes to museums and other family-friendly places afforded to us by our library, which offers all rich gifts far beyond the bookshelves – true wealth indeed.

To have such a break.

Oh, February.

It once again reigned supreme, keeping for us the sweet staycation standard of deep breaths, frugal fun, and mini day trips.

But my husband and I also had to prepare for what comes next – The month that cuts a different tune.

March is the famously singular month of kids’ academic years with no breaks, no long weekends.

March – More like Slump – notably brings with it a traditionally exhaustive, endless stretch in school in which cold and flu still persist despite the slow hints of spring.

Teachers begin to burn out, students begin to check out.

And not out like a lamb.

Talk about March madness.

We’ve got the erratic weather; we’ve got the student midterms brewing and final projects looming.

That fatigue is no lie, nor are this month’s impacts on mental health for many.

We can’t change this slump of a challenging month.

But what families can do in this break-less month is gather in the small joys.

Let the sun find your face. Touch the earth and feel the changing air.

Pick a tiny micro-bouquet of early spring blooms and dandelions.

Smell the earthy scent of outdoor air – hints of spring.

Bake something that even smells like spring – muffins or goods with lemon poppy seed or some sort of citrus.

Enjoy a slow, warm breakfast.

Read by an open window.

Go on a walk and listen for birdsong.

Celebrate small wins.

Savor a warm drink.

These teeny acts of gratitude can help you find hope during times that are dreary in a world uncertain.

For my family, we make a big deal of a holiday that’s well worth celebrating if not a Federal day off – St. Patrick’s day.

We make the brightly colored decorations, watch Irish movies, and polish off the evening with a corned beef brisket.

We’re not Irish, but we do this just because.

We continue our new-ish tradition of celebrating half birthdays – a silly, entertaining tradition that really serves no other purpose than to have an excuse to bake a cake.

Just because.

Most of all, we start our seeds at last – Remember those packets I mentioned for which we giddily wait by the mailbox? – I love the hope that seed starting brings, and my kiddos love the excuse to stick their hands in the dirt of our indoor potting bench.

Soiled hands.

Just because.

The best way to get through March is to do just that – March on through.

Create your own joys with gratitude to reduce that slump.

And trust me on the dandelion bouquets. They’ll complement your sparkling St. Patrick’s décor beautifully.

­­– Michelle Cote lives in southern Maine with her husband and four sons, and enjoys camping, distance running, biking, gardening, road trips to new regions, arts and crafts, soccer, and singing to musical showtunes – often several or more at the same time! <