I feel like I am going crazy!! I just can't wait until the summer is over. I hate the fact that I am overweight and am terribly hairy,(not good for skimpy summer fashions), sweat profusely at the first sign of warmth or humidity and have terrible allergic reactions to bug bites.
Everyone can't wait for the warm weather to get out and do things. I can't stand it. The worst part is I have 2 children, ages 3 years and 8 months who are suffering because of this. I want to stay in the air conditioning all day. I feel so down and depressed about being so selfish and self concious and know that I am ruining their summer as well.
What can I do to feel comfortable with the weather, myself and let my children have a great time? Thanks for your advice.
I am so sorry that you are suffering right now. I hated to see summer coming every year because I have very fair skin and I don't do well with the hot weather at all and can get heatstroke at the drop of a hat. It was particularly miserable when my son was little to deal with that on top of trying to be a good mother.
I was overweight at that time and self-conscious about being seen in public.
Believe it or not, something that really helped was getting a wading pool for my son (who was about 3 at the time). It was one of those 6 or 8 foot kind that you can get in a box at Wal-Mart with the "snap set" sides that stand up as you fill it with water. We filled it only 1/2 way when he was very little. My son seemed to be having so much fun, that one day I got in, too. I splished and splashed around and found we both had fun and got cooled off. It was in the backyard, so no one could see me!
Now that my son is a teenager, I still buy a pool for me (a 10 footer) and go out every evening and do a series of water aerobics that I devised in it and it is really firming my muscles.
So, I don't know if you even have a backyard, or if you would be able to do this. I realize that it might be impossible to do this summer, as your 8 month old may be too young. Maybe running through sprinklers would be better (if the 8 month old can't walk yet, maybe do it quickly with the 3 yr. old during the 8 mo. old's naptime?)
Please excuse me if any of these activities are not age-appropriate yet. It is a long time since I have had little ones around the house.
I am sure that other cysters will have even more great ideas!
Summer is difficult. Don't feel too badly about not going outside more. Spending time with your children is what is important, not where. Maybe in the evening when it's cooler. I look awful in shorts, but I go out in my yard anyway. If someone doesn't like it, they don't have to look The wading pool is a neat idea. I just might have to give that one some thought!
__________________ It's ok to cry if you're sad. Tears are God's little safety valve.
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ohhhh how I know what you mean! I just don't deal well with heat AT ALL! I don't really know why, whether it's the PCOS, the insulin resistance/glucose intolerance or the hypothyroidism!?!? But I do know I get beat red in the face and sweat like a hog. I hate it.
I looked in the mirror the other day and said to myself "man have you gotten ugly" I used to think I was ok looking, but anymore I am unhappy with that mirror, with my red sweaty face and no make up much anymore since it melts off anyhow.
Anyway, I know what you mean, the heat gets to me too and my son doesn't like to play outside much so I am pretty lucky thus far. My DD is only 10 months, so she is happy doing whatever!
I hope you will feel better, try the pool or sprinkler idea! Or do a sand/water table type thing indoors if it's possible.
I just had another idea that I used to do a lot in the summer with my son. GO TO THE LIBRARY! If you can stand the heat long enough to load the kids in the car! I know that can be a struggle in itself!
Our library was an air conditioned haven to me and my son. The librarians in the children's room were so kind and helpful and there were plenty of books for my son to look at and for me to read to him AND we could check them out and take them home for free! There were even some puzzles set up for him to do. They also did storytimes.
Now I volunteer there and my son is a Teen Volunteer! There is also computers now for the kids with cute animations of Dr. Suess and Arthur books, etc. The librarians are patient with the occasional toddler tantrum, too!
I think that this developed a lifelong love of books for my son.
I sure hope that you have a child-friendly library within a reasonable distance to go to!
Kathryn
Last edited by KlassicalKat; 07-13-2003 at 02:10 AM.
I know how you feel.I too hate the heat, I get all uncomfortable and sweaty with the least bit of heat or humidity and I cant stand it. My son is 3 and loves to be outside, I go to playgrounds with him and we have a pool in our development where we live and there is hardly anyone there during the day so we go there too.The wading pool or sprinklers sound like a really good idea.I myself have decided I am not going to think so much of what people are thinking when they look at me, my son is more important and if I stay inside and be miserable he will be too. Best of luck.
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i'm sorry that you are not enjoying your summer. i have a lot of excess body and facial hair too. last summer, i was in your position - i let it bother me and didn't have a fun summer at all. but to think that we are still young and there are still many summers ahead of us, i changed my perspective on things.
first of all, since the hairs bother me - i make it a point to remove it. i don't let it grow to the point that i cannot stand it because it definitely helps with morale. i also find that exercising helps because it makes me feel in control of myself. it also helps to wear clothes that reflect your personal style. and most of all, to always stay positive and surround yourself with people that have positive effect on yourself.
i hope this helps. as i said, we all still have a long life to live. while i admit to having recurring down times over the hairs, i hope that it will not cause permanent negative impact on my life in that when i look back when i'm old, i would realize that i have missed out on a lot of fun things that i could have done like enjoying some sun.
I certainly Feel you here..it was bad enough in my younger years with the excess weight and hairiness to contend with..o.k,I could and would just shave..but now with the hair all down my back and shoulders,I have to have someone else do it for me!!My husband is a sweetie and will do it for me,but god..how romantic!!He must think I am the grossest wildabeast!!!No wonder we have no sex life!!Anyway...now that my health problems have gotten worsesince my son turned 5,I never have any energy anyway,and the heat just kills me..I now have to wear a wig because of hair loss,so that makes me hotter and the sticky tab on the hairline of the wig won't stick if I'm sweating all over the place like a pig!!The psychologist and family counselor I see says I have "summer depression"..the oppisite of most peoples winter depression..It is true..summer is very depressing for me..i stay indoors with the air conditioner on while my husband goes out and see's all the pretty young women in thier booty girl summer clothes..does me a world of good!!Anyway,my son HAS suffered because of POS and anyone thinking of having a baby should consider that as well..I have had POS since puberty..lost weight and managed to get pregnant..rode on the "mommy"hormones for awhile which slowed down the symptoms and then WHAM!!Everything accelerated and I am very unhealthy,and have felt like I could die since he was 4!!!It hasnt been a very good life for him,being an only child and having a sick mom..Well,the result of him staying in with mom is that now I have a overweight child that doesnt get enough excersice and is addicted to tv and compuiter games...Sorry to dump,but I am depressed too....
I'm hating the summer too. It's way too hot to run on my treadmill, though I still do, I just get heat stroke every time. Plus my stomach is so bloated from not having a visit from AF in 5 months that I refuse to wear a bathing suit. Come on winter!!
__________________ All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king
— J.R.R. Tolkien
I can totally relate to what you all are feeling. Though I haven't had to contend with the excess hair growth on my face or hair loss. I sweat profusely and I won't be caught DEAD in a pair of shorts, I can't ly out long enough to get any color and my friends tease me for being so white. I know some sun is good for health and well being, with sunscreen ofcourse but I can't stand the heat and humidity. I hate when I see younger women wearing their short shorts and tank tops, my husband tries so hard NOT to look but he is only human and I can't blame him for it....after all look who he is married to. I feel so incredibly LOW about myself but I take comfort in knowing that I am not alone. There are so many of you suffering from low self esteem from this disease. I have two kids, one that is 12 soon to be 13 and one that is 5. I feel terrible that I don't have the energy to go out and do things with them. I fear they will look back on their childhood's and only see that I didn't make no effort to spend time with them. I try but sometimes I have no motivation to do much of anything but my daily chores. Anyhow thanks for letting me have this space to throw my rant in.
__________________ Just diagnosed with PCOS as of 08/11/03~want to learn anything I can about controlling symptoms. Going to start ORTHO TRI CYCLEN ASAP.
Need to lose 20 pounds.
Hi Raven!!That is exactly how I feel..everything you said and the fact that my son may grow up thinking the same as you are afraid your children might...that is more sad and depressing than anything I have ever felt from the symptoms of this PCOS...here i couldnt get pregnant for sooo long,even had a divorce over it when my first husband and I tried 6 years to get pregnant and then I had my son with someone else later,but now that I have him,I have gotten sicker and worse and what good is that?he suffers,i know it..he has cried because I don't spend enough quality time with him,or enough time at all for that matter...and I am not active...it just sucks!!I am really hoping I can lose weight on this low carbing I am doing so I can get some of my energy back hopefully and give him the time he deserves and needs and that I need with him,before he is a teenager and is too busy for his mom anymore..soon they grow up to quick and that is not how I want him to remember his childhood..and that is not how I want to remember it either..nothing has made me cry more in my life.........
Your posts nearly made me cry. I was not aware I am the only Summer Hater out there and I am sorry to hear you too are suffering from "Summer Blues".
And I have the feeling no one will understand. I went swimming once a few weeks ago but I felt so self-conscious with my massive, cellulite-covered thighs, my fat tummy and my flabby arms that I simply could not enjoy it. My boyfriend cannot understand how much that means to a woman... but haven't we all been taught that we're only love-able if we are skinny and pretty?!
Also, my female friends are wandering around in shorts and skimpy tops and I feel like an elephant in my baggy linen trousers and long blouses. I am an attorney-at-law but I cannot wear nice suits because of my fat calves and anyway I would sweat so much I'd look like a badly-groomed moron. (That's how it feels...)
The other day I was sitting outside a pub having a beer with my boyfriend and I was wearing a sleeveless top. At the table next to us there were some young and pretty (and skinny) women, one of whom was wearing a sleeveless top also. When my boyfriend went to the restrooms, the woman with the sleeveless top stared at me, then asked her girlfriends in a very loud voice: "Do you think my top looks OK? Don't you think my upper arms are too fat?" Then they all stared at me, and she was smiling smugly. It was clearly directed at me and they obviously felt offended at the sight of my upper arms. I felt incredibly hurt, I could not answer them because I was on the brink of tears. Since that day I haven't ever dared to wear another sleeveless top.
It's raining now and no one can understand I like it. This summer's heatwave has definitely made me suffer and I have cried many evenings, looking at myself and wishing I could wear shorts and a strappy top.
OK sorry for letting out my negative feelings. I am sure many people have worse problems and I do not want to come across as selfish and self-indulgent. It is just the way I feel.
I used to be afraid to go out in the summer (actually almost year round) cause of my sweating. My pits would be drenched immediately and I was so ashamed. I did a little research and found Drysol, a prescription strength anti-perspirant. You can buy it over the counter in Canada (not sure about the us) and after an initail one week nightly application you only need it once a week. It's amazing! It used to be that my pits would be soaked before 11 am and now they almost never are, even at the gym, unless I forget to apply. It's really changed my life.
Hate the Summer 
Kathryn
There were even some puzzles set up for him to do. They also did storytimes.
Come on winter!!
Im with you all, I hate summer too. 
