Springtime Struggles

After having a daily meltdown every morning for the last two years about what to wear (specifically what would be comfortable enough to wear), my PANDAS daughter made a serious break through over the winter.  She had been wearing clothes up to three or four sizes too big in order to keep the material from touching her skin as much as possible.  Not to mention that anything suitable for her to wear would need to be soaked in fabric softener and washed multiple times.

Unfortunately what gave her the courage to push the envelope was being teased by classmates about her baggy wardrobe.  I clearly remember the day when we were out shopping and she asked to try on some jeans.  Having been here many times before I expected the reject pile to be the only pile she ended up with, but this time it was different.  She actually found some jeans, off the rack in the GIRLS department, and was willing to give them a try.  I was dumbfounded and scurried to the checkout without asking questions or inspecting the price tag.  From that day on she continued to push herself a smidgen here and there - enough to end the winter with a modest collection of appropriately sized attire.

Here in Ohio unpredictable weather is, well....predictable.  Going from winter to spring has been a major setback leading back to the days of sunrise hysterics.  The ups and downs in temperature has become a new fixation for her PANDAS induced OCD.  Will she be too hot or too cold?  Should she wear carpis, jeans, or shorts....long sleeves or short sleeves?  What about a jacket?  These questions come at me over and over (and over and over) again all to be relived the next morning (and the next, and the one after that).

Springtime is one where most of us savor the balance of pleasantly cool and warm days.  When trying to point out this delicacy to my dear daughter I only receive stares filled with anxiety and dread.  My hope is for her to have a summer like this winter (or better!), without losing all progress made....and for her to have an autumn where she can embrace the joy of seasonal variety.