Rain or Shine Mamma

There's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes

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There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather – Pre-Order Your Copy Now!

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. Read my full disclosure policy here.
April 13, 2017 By Linda McGurk

The moment I became a mom in the U.S. I knew I had a story to tell – the story about parenting in Scandinavia and everything that it entails, including outdoor napping, forest schools and raising children who care about nature. Well, it’s been nine years since my oldest daughter was born and the road to publishing my parenting memoir has been lined with love, sweat and a few tears. The writing phase is now over and I’m totally stoked to let you know that There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather: A Scandinavian Mom’s Secrets for Raising Healthy, Resilient and Confident Kids will be published by Touchstone on October 3! Better yet, it’s already available for pre-order from online book sellers. (You’ll find all the links at the end of this post.)

There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather: A Scandinavian Mom's Secrets for Raising Healthy, Resilient and Confident Kids. Linda Åkeson McGurk. Bringing Up Bébé meets Last Child in the Woods in this lively, insightful memoir about a mother who sets out to discover if the nature-centric parenting philosophy of her native Scandinavia holds the key to healthier, happier lives for her American children. Pre-orders open Amazon now: http://amzn.to/2nJoyCb.

Here’s the publisher’s description of There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather:

“Bringing Up Bébé meets Last Child in the Woods in this lively, insightful memoir about a mother who sets out to discover if the nature-centric parenting philosophy of her native Scandinavia holds the key to healthier, happier lives for her American children.

When Swedish-born Linda McGurk moved to small-town Indiana with her American husband to start a family, she quickly realized that her outdoorsy ways were not the norm. In Sweden children play outside all year round, regardless of the weather, and letting young babies nap outside in freezing temperatures is not only common—it is a practice recommended by physicians. In the US, on the other hand, she found that the playgrounds, which she had expected to find teeming with children, were mostly deserted. In preschool, children were getting drilled to learn academic skills, while their Scandinavian counterparts were climbing trees, catching frogs, and learning how to compost. Worse, she realized that giving her daughters the same freedom to play outside that she had enjoyed as a child in Sweden could quickly lead to a visit by Child Protective Services.

The brewing culture clash finally came to a head when McGurk was fined for letting her children play in a local creek, setting off an online firestorm when she expressed her anger and confusion on her blog. The rules and parenting philosophies of her native country and her adopted homeland were worlds apart.

Struggling to fit in and to decide what was best for her children, McGurk turned to her own childhood for answers. Could the Scandinavian philosophy of “there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes” be the key to better lives for her American children? And how would her children’s relationships with nature change by introducing them to Scandinavian concepts like friluftsliv (“open-air living”) and hygge (the coziness and the simple pleasures of home)? McGurk embarked on a six-month-long journey to Sweden to find out. There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather is a fascinating personal narrative that highlights the importance of spending time outdoors, and illustrates how the Scandinavian culture could hold the key to raising healthier, resilient, and confident children in America.”

Use the links below to pre-order your copy of There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather now. And if you’re a blogger who would like to receive a review copy of the book, shoot me a message!

Online book sellers:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

IndieBound

Books a Million

I know there’s great interest for my book in Scandinavia and although the book is only available in English right now, international shoppers can order it from Amazon in the U.K. or Amazon in Germany.

Lastly, thank you for reading this blog and being a part of this community. You inspire me on a daily basis and helped motivate me to write down my story. Hopefully, it will help many other parents who are yearning to give their children a playful, healthy and nature-infused childhood.

Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy for details.

 

 

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Related posts:

How to Parent Like a Swede. Rain or Shine Mamma.How to Parent Like a Swede NaturePlay Film Launch + Giveaway! Rain or Shine MammaNaturePlay Film Pre-Launch + GIVEAWAY! 5 Reasons to Let Your Kids Play Outside In (Almost) Any Weather. Outdoor play in rain, wind and snow can be a lot of fun for kids, so why stay inside because of some inclement weather? Don't hibernate in the fall and winter - find some fun outdoor activities to do with your kids instead!5 Reasons Why My Kids Play Outside In (Almost) Any Weather Whatever the Weather Review + GIVEAWAY!
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Filed Under: Featured, Learn with Nature, Parent with Nature 8 Comments

Comments

  1. Dana says

    April 13, 2017 at 9:47 pm

    Oh, I’d love to read this book! I’m trying hard to incorporate lots of nature into my son’s (still a toddler) daily life.

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      April 14, 2017 at 5:52 am

      Love what you’re doing for your son; I hope and believe my book will be an inspiring read for parents like you!

      Reply
  2. Dawn says

    April 14, 2017 at 4:33 am

    I am *SO* excited for you, Linda!
    I am excited for anyone who reads the book too. I know it is going to have an amazing impact!
    Here’s to a wildly successful launch!

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      April 14, 2017 at 5:53 am

      Thank you so much, Dawn! I really appreciate all your support.

      Reply
  3. Mandy says

    April 14, 2017 at 11:43 am

    Congratulations! We need more of this, so thank you for writing the book. I hope that it will inspire parents, families, friends, educators, administrators to really take a long hard look at how children actually are, instead of what they want them to be. As I had expressed before, as a manager of education in a park system, I am trying to get my educators to think this way so it becomes the norm for all of our participants. I cannot wait to read it!

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      April 16, 2017 at 9:36 pm

      Thank you so much for your encouraging words, Mandy! I hope that this book will reach a broad audience and introduce these ideas to people who are not familiar with them. Keep up the good work with your education program!

      Reply
  4. Aparna says

    January 25, 2018 at 6:12 am

    I lived in Oslo for a couple of months and loved how the kids were raised there. After coming back to India ( Pregnant with my first baby ) I looked and tried to find deeply how things are done there. A guide to lead me in the upbringing I wish. Am glad I could find this. It sounds amazing. Let me see is I can order it in India. Thanks for the book.

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      January 25, 2018 at 6:41 am

      I love learning about parenting in different cultures as well; it’s interesting to see just how different things are. I hope you’ll be able to order the book from India – maybe Amazon UK? https://www.amazon.co.uk/Theres-Such-Thing-Bad-Weather/dp/150114362X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1516880266&sr=1-1&keywords=there%27s+no+such+thing+as+bad+weather

      Reply

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BUY THE BOOK

There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather: A Scandinavian Mom's Secrets for Raising Healthy, Resilient and Confident Kids. “Bringing Up Bébé meets Last Child in the Woods in this lively, insightful memoir about a mother who sets out to discover if the nature-centric parenting philosophy of her native Scandinavia holds the key to healthier, happier lives for her American children."

“Linda McGurk offers a perfect antidote to the hyper-vigilant, extra-electrified, standardized-tested, house-arrested, 21st-century childhood and the experts who push it. Practical and wise, There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather proves just that, and much more.”
—Richard Louv, bestselling author of LAST CHILD IN THE WOODS and VITAMIN N

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I’m not going to lie - there are times when my children’s dawdling drives me nuts. Like when they take 45 minutes to finish breakfast even though we’re running late . But I also envy their ability to be completely unhurried and present in the moment, and I realize that it’s a quality that I need to protect🐌As parents, we need to make space for our children to play, get bored, dawdle, wander, wonder, create, sleep in, be wild and free and watch the clouds go by. Let them be where they are and not push them to achieve arbitrary milestones or condition them to think that a packed calendar is the key to success and happiness.As always, Ginny of @1000hoursoutside is on point🙌🏻_____________________________#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #1000hoursoutside #quote ... See MoreSee Less
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Do any of these grow near you? If so, it’s a good idea to be able to identify them. Don’t forget to show the kids!🌿A friendly reminder to all of our US friends and followers, we are really lucky we don't have these in the UK.... ... See MoreSee Less
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Linda Åkeson McGurk
I’m not going to lie - there are times when my c I’m not going to lie - there are times when my children’s dawdling drives me nuts. Like when they take 45 minutes to finish breakfast even though we’re running late . But I also envy their ability to be completely unhurried and present in the moment, and I realize that it’s a quality that I need to protect🐌

As parents, we need to make space for our children to play, get bored, dawdle, wander, wonder, create, sleep in, be wild and free and watch the clouds go by. Let them be where they are and not push them to achieve arbitrary milestones or condition them to think that a packed calendar is the key to success and happiness.

As always, Ginny of @1000hoursoutside is on point🙌🏻
_____________________________
#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #1000hoursoutside #quote
Did you know that camping for as little as two nig Did you know that camping for as little as two nights straight can help you reset your circadian rhythms and improve your sleep for several weeks afterwards? That's because the natural light helps the body regulate melatonin, a hormone that tells the body when it's time to get up and go, and when it's time to rest and recuperate🌗 

My melatonin levels weren't top of mind when @jeanetteosterman and I started our challenge to sleep outside at least once a month for a year. But I must say, I rarely sleep as soundly and feel as energetic as I do when I sleep under the skies.

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“I’m not thrilled about looking older. But wha “I’m not thrilled about looking older. But what unsettles me the most about the 40s is the implication that I’m now a grown-up myself.”
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This is exactly how I feel when I spend time in na This is exactly how I feel when I spend time in nature and why I find it so relaxing. When I’m outside with my kids I’m really present in the moment and there’s no place I’d rather be❤️ Hope you feel the same🌿

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This giveaway is now CLOSED. Congratulations @conn This giveaway is now CLOSED. Congratulations @connectedmothering, you are our winner!🙌🏻🎉🎊

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I’ve always loved traveling and have been to my I’ve always loved traveling and have been to my fair share of exotic places, the farther the better🌎 Sometimes, I’d stay for a week, sometimes for months, or even a year. But in the past few years, my horizon has narrowed, and not only because of the pandemic. 

The effects of global climate change are real and it’s becoming harder and harder for me to justify flying for recreation. I’m not here to say that I’m swearing off flying altogether (we have a lot of family abroad that we can only get to by air) but I’m mostly trying to satisfy my craving for adventure at local destinations these days. And it’s been an eye opener🤩

There’s so much more to discover locally than I’d ever thought and going on these micro adventures makes me feel more rooted in my community and the history of this place. Hopefully, my girls will feel it too🌳

What are your thoughts on exploring more locally?
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #friluftsliv #microadventure #microadventures #sweden #outdooradventures #åsletå #hornborgarsjön
When I became a parent, one of the first books I r When I became a parent, one of the first books I read was Free-Range Kids by Lenore Skenazy and I felt like I’d finally found somebody who “got it.”🙌🏻 Somebody who stood up and said enough is enough with the helicopter parenting trend, questioned the need for baby knee pads and reminded everyone that it’s okay for kids to be bored, drink out of the garden hose, climb trees and play without intervention by adults who are trying to make the activity more “educational.” Somebody who understood that free play is learning. And for that, we thank her🙏🏻🙌🏻
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@lskenazy
A follower recently asked me when she could start A follower recently asked me when she could start hiking with her kids, to which I responded that I’ve always hiked with mine, ever since they were babies👶🏻 I kept going after they graduated from the carrier, but obviously “hiking” with a toddler is a lot different than hiking by yourself and I think it’s important to be prepared for and accepting of that, or nobody is going to have a good time.

If you’d like to know more about hiking with toddlers, I share some tips in this post: https://rainorshinemamma.com/hiking-with-toddlers/. 

What are your thoughts on hiking with little kids? Do you have any tips that you’d like to share?💡
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Yes, it looks cozy around the fire and it was🔥 Yes, it looks cozy around the fire and it was🔥 What the picture doesn’t show is us making a wrong turn and losing the trail, resulting in a 1.5-mile detour with heavy packs and sunset closing in on us before we finally reached our campsite🙈

One of the reasons why I love hiking and backpacking is that even though it’s about “living simply”, it also involves a great deal of problem-solving. I actually like it when things don’t go exactly according to plan, because you learn more that way. Not just practical things, like figuring out your location and getting on the right track, but also about yourself and your reaction to challenges🙌🏻

In this case, the wrong turn was just a minor misstep that we were able to correct by backtracking, but it was a good way to test our reasoning skills and resilience at a point when we were both starting to get a little tired.

This was our fourth time of sleeping outside at least once a month for a year, a challenge I jumped on thanks to my friend @jeanetteosterman. I’m not normally one to do challenges but this has been a fantastic way to push my boundaries and learn new skills. Who knows, maybe sleeping under the open skies once a month will become my new normal?😜🤩
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #friluftsliv #optoutside #outdoorexperten #camping #campinglife #springcamping #backpacking #backpackingwithkids #vitaminn
I think it’s safe to say that if more of us trie I think it’s safe to say that if more of us tried to see the world through a child’s eye, this Earth would be a much more loving and compassionate place❤️

Thanks @awilderchild for your amazing nature poetry🙏🏻
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