Once upon a time, when it was and when it was not, I stepped outside into the cool morning air.
Brrrr, I said.
The morning was chilly. But little did I know, Mother Nature had a secret up her sleeve. By lunchtime, the sun would be shining brightly, and the day would feel warm again.
"What shall I wear?" I wondered.
And so begins my story of layers.
Every good adventure starts with a first layer.
For me, year-round, I begin with a soft wool tank and briefs or boxers as my first base layer. What comes next depends entirely on the weather. Some days need only a little more; other days call for several layers to keep me warm and cozy.
For children, I like to begin with either a wool tank shirt or a short-sleeved T-shirt, along with Bermuda shorts.
"What comes next?" you ask.
Well, this is where the story gets interesting.
You see, some people are naturally warm creatures. They run hot all the time! They climb, jump, play, wiggle, and explore nonstop from morning until night. These busy little creatures may not enjoy having a long-sleeved shirt underneath all their other layers.
For them, a tank or short-sleeved T-shirt may be just the thing to keep their core warm, dry and comfortable while giving them plenty of freedom to move.
But others love to sit and watch.
They stop to read a book. They watch the clouds drift by. They discover a tiny snail making its slow journey across the ground. They move at a gentler pace, taking their time to notice the world around them.
These little ones may need a little more warmth. For them, a long-sleeved wool shirt might be just right.
And as we grow older, our bodies change, too. We may not make quite as much warmth as we once did, and just like babies, we may need a few extra layers to help keep us cozy.
And so, we wait and see what the weather brings.
September is a season of surprises.
The morning may whisper, "Put on another layer."
The afternoon may say, "Never mind! Take it off!"
And so we listen.
If cooler weather arrives with its frosty breath, and the temperatures begin to fall below zero, the wool leggings come out, too.
And so, one layer becomes two.
Two layers may become three.
And another may join the story when it is needed.
That is the secret of layering:
You don't have to wear everything at the beginning of the season. You just need to have the right layers ready for when the weather changes.
But wait!
There is one more very important part of this story.
The socks.
Warm, dry feet are very important indeed.
Have you ever tried to fall asleep with cold feet?
Exactly.
Cold feet can make even the coziest bed feel a little less cozy! And for children who spend their days walking, running, climbing, splashing, digging, and exploring, keeping those little feet warm and dry can make all the difference.
And so, before heading out on another September adventure, we remember:
A little wool close to the body.
Another layer when the weather calls for it.
And yet another—well, you get the idea by now...
And then, warm, dry socks on their feet.
Now we are ready.
Out the door we go—into the cool morning, through the changing day, and home again as the evening begins to fall.
The sun disappears a little earlier now.
The air grows cooler.
The leaves begin to turn.
And tomorrow morning?
Well, who knows what Mother Nature will have up her sleeve.
But we will be ready.
Because autumn is coming.
And there are more layers yet to come.
