There are not many places in the world like Duluth, where it can snow near the end of May. Yes, while everyone else is reveling in the magic of spring — planting flowers and planning their precious vegetable gardens — us Duluthians are putting on snow hats and mittens to brave the latest wintry blast.
Because of this weather, I just about lost my temper while in Target with my four-year-old daughter. I was already in a mood trying to mentally stay strong during this unseasonable change in the weather. Simply walking from my car into the store felt like I had climbed Mount Everest — with nearly gale force winds and what seemed like mountain-sized snowflakes falling from the sky. Once in the store, we checked off the list just in time for an emergency potty break. Whew, I thought, as we finished up and headed off to the checkout line.
When at the register, of course, my daughter decides to have a tantrum. She’s asking for one of those darn treats they put at the checkout counter. Her favorite is the Annie’s version of Teddy Grahams. Every time we checkout at any store, I curse them because I know it’s going to turn into a fight — and most likely tears. Of course, I give in. Then, the icing on the cake? We get home from Target and my toddler starts singing Jingle Bells! Oh my. What a day. At the moment I wasn’t sure if I was going to laugh or cry, feeling a bit insane with the swing in my emotions.
Yes, I know it’s not the weather’s fault that my toddler had a tantrum or I was in a poor mental state. I know I’m without a doubt in control of my emotions. But oh man does the typical Duluth spring weather mess with your head! It teases us with a few sunny, oh-so-warm days in the sixties — seventies even — then not a few days later we’re dealing with yet another November-like day.
But, on the other hand, there is nowhere else in the world like Duluth. We have the most amazing lake at our fingertips for all of us outdoor enthusiasts, microbreweries, local music festivals and of course… the food! Last night, for the first time I had the most amazing fried smelt at a friend’s house. What a Duluthian experience! Thank you Duluth for pushing me to my mental limits this spring and showing me I can still find a silver lining even on the most dreary of days. But, please please no more snow until October for this mom’s sanity!
About Chelsey Slack
Duluthian mom and wife, Chelsey is a writer, full-time product expert for SAP, is forever curious and focuses on keeping it real. She holds a B/A in Communications and Journalism. She can be found running in and around Duluth, playing Barbies with her daughter or eating sushi on a date night with her husband. Want to get in touch? You can follow her on Twitter.
