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There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather

A Scandinavian Mom's Secrets for Raising Healthy, Resilient, and Confident Kids (from Friluftsliv to Hygge)

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There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather

Written by: Linda Åkeson McGurk
Narrated by: Ann Richardson
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About this listen

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.

©2017 Linda Åkeson McGurk (P)2017 Audible, Inc.
Education Environment Motherhood Nature & Ecology Parenting & Families Relationships Science Scandinavia Conservation Resilient Kids
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I enjoyed the concepts in this book and having had the opportunity to peek into Scandinavian culture. I didn't fully realize it was a biography when I began, but I enjoyed it all the same.

Inspiring Biography

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Whether you’re a future or current parent, the advice in this book is gold. I highly recommend it.

A Must Read

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Makes me feel better as a new parent and teacher that kids can be cured from their distaste of the outdoors. A great read with good tips and refreshing view.

Refreshing read

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This audiobook opened my mind about my own family. Great point on allowing more play and be prepared for weather. So many insights to take away!!

Great book!!

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Loved listening to this book. The narrator at times sounded a bit like Siri or an automated system, but otherwise was easy to listen to. The book is a great perspective on the importance of outdoor play. Some good takeaways. Definitely recommend for those interested in the Scandinavian culture and their way of parenting.

Great perspective on the importance of outdoor play

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