There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather: A Scandinavian Mom's Secrets for Raising Healthy, Resilient, and Confident Kids (from Friluftsliv to Hygge)

by Linda Åkeson McGurk

I’m not surprised. Messy, wild play is seen as a perfectly natural, even cherished part of childhood in Scandinavia, and the way I was raised, muddy hands, piles of filthy clothes, and wet boots were almost considered badges of honor, a testament to a day filled with adventure, new experiences, and lots of trial and error. The adult me has a slightly more complex relationship with messes. I wouldn’t exactly call myself a neat freak, but I like my house orderly and clean, and my kitchen counter free of clutter, craft glitter, and traces of homemade salt dough. Outside, however, it’s a different story. I have no problem whatsoever with my children wading knee-deep in a creek, carousing with filthy farm animals, or walking barefoot through a muddy field. They can wrestle in mud puddles all day long, as far as I’m concerned. It’s almost as if nature itself manages to pacify my type A tics. Or maybe I’m just calmed by the knowledge that the kids will leave their muddy clothes in the garage on their way back inside the house, thereby keeping the mess contained and manageable. Either way, I truly feel like sending kids outside to play and then barring them from getting dirty is like giving them an eight-week-old kitten and telling them they’re not allowed to pet it. It’s just not right.