Temperature Wars

As it gets colder here in Northern Illinois, so it does inside the house.  That means it's time to turn on the heat.  If it were my house, I'd keep the thermostat set at 68°.  My in-laws, however, like the thermostat set at a chilly 62°.

 

I found this out a few weeks ago when I was in my room.  The baby was napping and I thought, "Brrr!  I need more clothes on.  And a blanket, too."  My fingers and nose were pinkish-red.  Then I thought, "If I feel this way, imagine the poor baby! It's too cold in here!"

 

The American Academy of Pediatrics discourages the use of blankets in the crib until after the age of 18 months, to prevent SIDS.  I am a stickler for the rules.  That means the only solution is to turn up the temperature.  Downstairs I went; up went the dial to a much more comfortable 67°.  Five degrees higher.  I wasn't asking much.

 

Soon enough I was shivery again.  I checked the thermostat.  It was back down at 62° - not appropriate for a baby!  So I said something to my in-laws about how the baby needs it to be warmer in the house.  Bruce said something, too.  But day after day, we'd turn the thermostat up, and someone (neither would admit they were doing it) would turn it down.  It was infuriating.

 

One morning, Bruce and I woke up under the covers, sensing how frigid the air was in our room.  Even though we dress Emmie in layers to keep her warm, what about her little hands and her little face?  Sometimes Emmie's fingers would feel like tiny icicles.  This was ridiculous.  Don't Bruce's parents care about their granddaughter?  When they agreed to let us move in they knew that they'd have to make changes to accommodate the baby.  On top of that, we pay them rent! They can turn up the heat!  The smoke that was coming out of my ears might have fired me up, but it wasn't doing anything for our daughter's sake.

 

Bruce went downstairs to turn up the temperature yet again and encountered his mom.  He was angry and it showed.  "Mom," he growled.  "Why do you keep turning this down? What do I have to say to you to get this to stop? Don't you get it's too cold for the baby?"

 

"We're burning up in our room," she replied.

 

"Too bad!" Bruce responded.  "Take off your blankets, then!"

 

"The gas bill will be so much more."

 

Bruce wanted to yell, "Take it out of the rent we pay you!" But he didn't.  We don't want to cause trouble while we live here.  We don't want to fight, so we try to avoid bitterness.  But Bruce works for the gas company.  He knows five degrees of warmth won't cost much more than what they're paying.  "Mom," he said softly instead. "Do you need me to show you something on the internet about what the house temperature should be for a baby?"

 

His mom said no, it was fine.  Bruce turned up the dial once again and came back upstairs.  The dial hasn't moved since.

 

It looks like we may have won this round.  After a battle, though, you can't help but view your opponent in a new light.  For me, I am hurt and dismayed by this demonstration of stubbornness and selfishness.  Bruce is disappointed and embarrassed by his parents.  It's not nice to feel this way.

 

The baby is warmer, for sure, but the grownups are all a bit chillier towards each other.