Friday 9 October 2009

The weather today is just awesome!...

... if you're a 5-year-old girl in rain boots!It was one of those moments as a parent (as a person) where you just let everything else go and. just. be.

I was walking with Alex from school to the car - over the asphalt, through the grass, onto the gravel trail, down the sidewalk and across the street - and it was raining. It had been raining all day. It was raining on the way there, too, but she walked beside me. Under the umbrella. No puddle jumping - at my request.

On the way FROM school, though, it was a different story. I walked under the umbrella, and I gave her the choice this time. She chose to relish the cold, damp weather and embrace the puddles :)

She listened very well and did not jump when anyone was near her. But when no one was within splashing distance? Oh my! Did she ever enjoy herself. The look on her face was sheer unadulterated bliss. She wasn't cold. She wasn't damp. She wasn't wet. She was HAPPY. And you know what? I wasn't cold. I wasn't damp. I wasn't wet. I was happy.

Thanks for that moment, Alex. It wouldn't have happened without you. Thanks for all the moments I get to just. be. because of you. It is an amazing gift to be able to see, taste, feel, hear, EXPERIENCE - in the true sense of the word - the world through children. And I have two amazing conduits.

6 comments:

~kris~ said...

Wasn't it wonderful?

I let my 2 and 4 year olds dance in the rain with their umbrellas on the way out of daycare. Of course their umbrellas weren't over their heads! It was fun to watch them having so much fun.

I would never have let my 13 year old do that - all those years ago I was too busy to be troubled with a soaking wet preschooler! I'm glad I finally grew up and realized what was important in life!

Natalie @Nat_Rea said...

Beautiful! So funny, because I had a similar moment with my 5yo today on our walk to school. I didn't bother telling her to be careful and to not get wet. She was wearing her rain boots and wanted to enjoy them :)

Natalie @YMCbuzz

JackiYo said...

I'm going to assume you mean Zoo as the second conduit.

JackiYo said...

Hey there, hubby! Comment under your own login!! :)

Anonymous said...

I LOVE this photo, how spectacular is that. I also can appreciate how fun it is to see how simple their joy can be. A lesson for us to learn for sure.

Sarah said...

It is the moments where I free myself of worrying about the messes, trying to prevent them, and worrying about perfection and timing and schedules that I am most happy in motherhood. It isn't all that easy to let go when you know it might provoke a larger mess for you to clean up - a rain puddle, a muddy pond, a painting adventure in the dining room. I find it easier now with three children than it has ever been because I really have so little control anyway!

What a wonderful moment for you to capture with words.

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