Friluftsliv!
This Norwegian phrase roughly translates to open air life and it has become our family’s motto this year. As our children grow, we’ve narrowed our values and are working to more thoroughly embrace the beauty of nature and our diverse seasonality here in the midwest.
Many families have been looking to spend more time in nature due to COVID. In summer, it’s easy! Our first summer led to numerous backyard projects: the purchase of a small pool, the expansion of our kids’ fort, building rain gardens, and starting a below-ground compost bin.
Summer two brought our first family camping trip (two, actually!), a couple of area hikes, and a trip with extended family to explore the coastal communities around Lake Superior.
But embracing summer’s heat and humidity is one thing. Wisconsin’s bitterly cold, harsh winters are another. Frigid temperatures, ice, and sporting extra layers and heavy boots through deep snow? They can have you longing for hot weather and the buzz of pterodactyl-sized mosquitoes.
So when hubs learned the phrase Friluftsliv this past fall, he embraced it with enthusiasm!
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Scandinavian countries are known for their citizens’ high quality of life. Several years ago, the word hygge started to pop up. Intrigued, I checked out the book, The Little Book of Hygge, to learn more about this Danish phrase.
From it, I learned that we already embrace many of the principles of hygge — the cozy attributes in our home, enjoying warm cups of tea or hot chocolate on a cold day, listening to storms on the porch, dog snuggles, slow time spent watching our gardens grow and attract pollinators.
So when it came to learning about and embracing a new Scandinavian philosophy, we were in. (I mean, who doesn’t want tips from the happiest people on the planet?)
So what does Friluftsliv mean to us and our lifestyle?
Investing in appropriate attire
Nothing compares to a beautiful winter day. The sun reflecting on the snow, the crunch beneath your feet, the quiet echo of the wind in the trees. But you need to be prepared or it can be miserable. So we’ve had to shove aside the fashionable teenager within and instead embrace the warmth quality gear provides:
Yak Traks: Walking in winter can be treacherous, so we’ve invested in gripping footwear. Eventually we may upgrade to something with integrated traction, but for now these simple, removable coil grips are perfect. (Tip: if your sizing is on the edge, go up. If your Traks run small, there’s a greater chance of them falling off mid-hike.)
Snow pants: Snow’s the most fun when you can play in it! We’ve started sporting these almost everywhere. Black’s always a staple, but snow pants come in all kinds of fun colors – even for adults – so go crazy and buy the fuschia if they’re calling your name.
Long johns: Perfect for less playful outdoor events like winter markets, concerts, or downtown shopping. Just slip on a cozy layer before you head out to keep your heat.
Wool socks: My favorite wool socks are always Darn Tough, but invest in some thicker ones for longer stints outside. People Socks, Bombas, and SmartWool are all well-established brands, but generics will do the job, too. A pair or two should do!
Tubes/Masks: Who on Earth would have thought that a simple piece of cloth over my face could make me like winter? For protection against COVID and the winter wind, I love my masks by Levi Strauss. (Hubs swears by Outdoor Research, and we’re partial to the pleated design by Old Navy for the kids). But if you don’t want to sport a mask, try a tube instead. Hubs discovered these in his years working in the field as a surveyor. They’re less bulky than a cowl and the lightweight synthetic fabric wicks moisture and dries quickly.
Comfortable boots: In my years as a Wisconsinite, I’ve only had two pair of winter boots that I’ve really liked: one pair by Columbia and my current pair by Kamik. Both are/were lightweight and comfortable. If you have a favorite, tell me the comments!
Snowshoes: We aren’t fully invested in these quite yet, but we occasionally rent them from our local nature reserve and I’m looking forward to purchasing a nice, lightweight aluminum pair someday. (Hubs has a pair of vintage Vikings.)
Yard Play
Going outside and embracing Friluftsliv in winter doesn’t have to be a big production. It can be as simple as playing in your own yard or a nearby park. Building snow people, making snow fairies, snowball fights, and making forts are all great ways to enjoy the snow. But mustering the energy to bundle kids and get outside can be a lot, that’s why I like to sneak in some outside time after school drop off and pickup or around errands, ‘cause the kids are already prepared. Just make sure everyone has warm mittens!
Vitamin D
Winter can be hard on your mental health and getting enough sun is a challenge when the days are so short. We’ve found that this simple, inexpensive trick truly does help boost our spirits when we take it consistently.
Sleds
Not only are sleds lots of fun on big hills, but sleds are also a great way to transport small children in the winter months. I love our stroller and would 100% buy it again, but wheels in a few inches of fresh snow are just not efficient.
If your kids are small, don’t forget a baby carrier! We love our Ergo (for up to 45 lbs.), as it keeps them close for extra body heat, but we also have an hiking carrier (which is nice in the summer when you want less body heat).
Walking more places
In our case, school is the most common destination. The walk to our kids’ school is about 10-15 minutes (a leisurely 20, if the little insists on walking himself. Either way, the time spent traveling to and from school is no more than five minutes more than it would take to wrangle and buckle kids into the car, wait in the drop-off line, and get to my next destination. I’ve also found that the fresh air does a lovely reset on all of our attitudes if we’re not in the best of spirits when we leave the house (which is more common than not).
Learning new skills
I’m a klutz. I have no idea how to ice skate or ski or snowboard. While I’m not super gung-ho about the learning process, I know my family will be there to laugh at me — I mean, support me — all the way! Not only are these great activities and phenomenal exercise, but I think it’s really important that my kids see me learn new skills. Besides, there’s a good chance that if I can get over my fears, I’ll actually really enjoy them.
Equipment to learn a new skill can come at a steep cost if purchased new, but rentals are readily available at nature reserves, equipment stores, ski hills, and ice rinks.
Community events
The holiday season brings numerous community events. Thanks to COVID, many are now held outdoors. Outdoor markets, music, parades, fundraisers, and festively decorated parks are all perfect destinations for family fun and fresh air. Follow local organizations on Facebook or check out community publications for events calendars.
Looking ahead
As the kids grow, we look forward to including some longer hikes, winter camping, road trips to national parks, and hopefully a visit to the sea caves. (Have you seen these gorgeous, natural phenomena? Fingers crossed that global warming hasn’t ruined our chances of seeing these amazing constructs.)
In the meantime, we’ll continue whipping scarves around our necks with enthusiasm and using “FRILUFTSLIV!” As our battle cry against harsh, Wisconsin winters.
What’s your favorite outdoor winter activity? Tell me about it in the comments below!
—Funky Crunchy Mama
