Has Your Children Seen Real Snow?

I was born and raised here in Ft. Myers I am now 28 and up until about 3 yrs ago I had just for the first time went to Colorado and saw real snow!!! It was the greatest thing ever. I also have 3 children that were also all born and raised here. Last year as a Christmas gift we took them to Lake Tahoe, it was the best gift ever, they were so excited the whole week we were there we skied, snow mobiled...etc. All they wanted to do was play in the snow! Cheap entertainment. I cannot wait to take them again this year! Living in Fl. it's like a treat to go see snow, like the snowbirds that come here to escape the snow and enjoy the sun! We take it for granted. Have a Merry Christmas!

My oldest has, but not since he was 2 1/2. My youngest was 9 months. We do plan on a vacation early next year so they can see the snow again. It is totally normal for kids here to never see snow. I've lived down here for 21 years and I've not missed it (I moved when I was 7). And I know a lot of natives that have never seen snow.

I have family in NYC so my son got a chacne to see real snow ..He is now 7 and saw snow for the first time when he was 5 . I am 25 and that was my first time seeing real snow too . It is normal for floridians to not see snow , we are the sunshine state. The only way for us to see snow is if we travel up north to see it .

My DH is a Florida boy and he saw snow for the first time last Christmas when we went my parents home in Minnesota (they have been having some weird years without snow at Christmas, so he finally got to see it falling last year). His daughter, also a Florida girl saw it for the first time at 11 weeks old, at the same time as her dad!
I think it is normal unless you have relatives in another area that you normally visit when there is snow.

Hi C....Yes it is normal. I used to live in GA and I met 30 year old adults who have never seen snow. It is common for children who are raised in a tropical climate to not see snow and wonder what it is. I love the snow by the way. I was born and raised in NY. I love the climate in Miami however I love snow as well...there is nothing like layering some clothes on and grabbing your sled and going head first in a mountain of snow...go home and have some soup or hot chocolate. A priceless experience. ;-)

I was born and raised in FT Myers, didn't see snow until I was sent to boarding school in WV at 15. I don't plan on making a point to take my kids to see it, I HATE the snow. lol Give me palm trees and sandy beaches any day!!!

I'd have to say yes. I'm born and raised in Central Florida and have yet to see snow. My boyfriend's lived all over, from California, to Ohio, to Saudi Arabia, and now Florida. So he's seen it all and pretty much done it all. So it shocks him that I've never seen snow, been on a plane or a train, or had eggnog(something he found out this holiday season). So yes, I'd say it's pretty normal for Floridians.

Yep, unfortunately, it is the norm for some FL children. I know 23 and 24 year olds that have never seen snow, and they have resided in FL their entire lives. And to concur with the other posts. Unless you plan on vacationing in the North, and they actually have snow during the time you go, they will not see it. With all the global warming and things, the white winters are few and far between it seems nowadays. But sometimes they get it as early as Thanksgiving. If you are from the North, and have seen snow, I would imagine you want to give your children that sense of culture in thier lives. Don't worry about it though. Whenever you have the time to do it, it is on your time. My other suggestion for snow exposure in FL; however,is to look at community events. Sometimes this outfit advertises in the paper...sets up sledding hills and snowball fights down at the Twins Stadium or baseball stadium on Six Mile Cypress during the colder months here in FL. They bring in faux snow or a snow machine,..may be faux, but ya know, even ski hills up north do it too, and they are up there, go figure. BUT, it would be an opportunity for exposure right here in your "own backyard" so to speak. I took my oldest to one of the set ups a few years back and it was fun. I am not certain about the skating rinks in town, Ft. Myers and such...maybe they have a snow event too during the season. Worth checking out anyway for something fun to do, and C SNOW! :) Other than that, I was making a funny to my friends that I may fed ex some down in a cooler for them...not sure if it would last though. ;) My oldest son was born in MN, where I am from...so he saw it in the early years and when we visit there every other year or so, and my two younger sons, born in FL, I have taken to MN on vacation too to sled and enjoy winter fun, sledding, snow angels, snowmen making, etc... I have to say, they love it, still talk about it, and look forward to seeing it again. And a bit of funny trivia...apparently it snowed here like 32 years ago or something in SW FL I was told, so apparently it is possible every few decades...LOL. Have a Happy Holiday!

Yes, this is VERY normal for children born here in Florida. The first time my children saw snow was: 1) my son joined the Army and saw his first snow in Ft. Eustis, Va during his AIT training. 2) my daughter saw her first snow when she moved to Mountain Home Idaho, with her husband who went into the AF.
As for me, I am a first generation Floridian (my children are second). The first time I saw snow, at age 42 was last Christmas when my husband and I went to Mountain Home to visit our daughter. As a matter of fact, that was my first time on a plane, West of the Mississippi, first time seeing snow and playing in it.

Now, my children and I have been to Ga and PA during the winter time, PA at Christmas about 5 yrs ago for two weeks. All these times, the weather acted like it was going to snow, but never did. So, it wasn't like we didn't try. Situations never were correlated. The time in PA, it actually snowed about 3 days after we left. LOL

So, as for those of us born here...it is very common.

V.

Hi, I don't think I understand what the concern is. Do they want to see it? Are they asking about it? My guess is it would be normal for children who grow up in warm climates not to see snow - it's just not there, just like it's normal for kids who grow up in cold climates or who grew up inland not to have been to the ocean. I wouldn't worry about it.

I am 23 yrs old. Born and rasied in south Florida. I still havent seen snow and obviously neither have my children. Although I am just dieing to see it, I justify it in my head thinking that some people grow up never seeing a beach. :)

It all depends on where you live. Some kids live in areas where they don't see snow, tornadoes, earthquakes, the ocean, etc. It's certainly normal for the kids that live in those areas. They will be just fine not feeling snow. I'm sure they have seen it in pictures but just haven't felt it first hand. Many children that live in cold climates probably wish they never had felt it. If it really bothers you that much why not plan a winter trip back home to show them the snow?

I was 28 when I first saw snow... a seminar in Utah. I saw it snowing out the window and couldn't control myself. I blurted out.. "I'm sorry, I have never seen snow and it's snowing outside! I have to take a break....." and just walked out. Others followed me and watched (and participated in) me making a total fool out of myself. IT WAS THE BEST!!!!

Saying that.... I don't know how people up North live in that for months out of the year. It's beautiful, but very impractical. :D I'm so spoiled.....

G. - The Florida Native

I think it's perfectly normal for children who live in Florida. I can't stand the cold weather. If I had not gone through some hard times and had to move to NC for 2 years, my son would not have seen snow yet. I have been in Florida for over 10 years and before that overseas, and have no desire to visit the cold and snow. Don't worry about it! They have their whole life to see it.

Cathrine, Don't worry about a thing. I am a native Floridian (born in the early 60's), and didn't see snow until I was 20!! It made the experiance that much more exciting and I will never forget it! Lots of times there are parks in the area that will bring in "snow" and the kids can play in it for several hours. You might want to check with your local parks. That way they can get the feeling of being up north!! Enjoy your holiday!

I, unlike most of the other responses - grew up in Vermont. I moved out of VT when I was 21. There is nothing more magical - I think - to have snow on Christmas.. the Christmas spirit is so much more prevelant up there - although, yes, it is cold.. to see "Santa's sleigh tracks" in the snow on Christmas morning was one thing I sooo looked forward to. I went back to Vermont, for the first time in 17 years, and spent Christmas with my Dad, My son was 4 at the time and my daughter was 1 - when I saw those flurries, I got so excited and told my son to come quick and look - he looked and then looked at me and said "WHAT IS IT?" - we spent a couple months up there, and my children got to make snow man, had snowball fights, when sliding, ice skating and came inside to warm up with hot chocolate... though not everyone would agree - it is priceless - my children still talk about the ice cycles that hung from the eves of the house. It is gorgeous, but yes cold... and I still have a problem w/ christmas lights on palm trees, and getting mosquito bites and sweating while putting up the lights on the house! But that's just me.

If at all possible, I would encourage any kids, or kids at heart to spend a week in the snow - your kids will remember it always!!

I'm a FL native. Never saw snow till I was 27. None of my 5 siblings saw it till they were into their 20's. It's typical when you grow up in Fl.

I, myself, was born and raised and just saw snow for the first time this year with my now 2yr. old who was 1yrs at the time when went, and I will be 25 next month. LOL! I fell in love the first time I saw it. I think taking your children to see it for the first time will be an experience they will never forget.