Monkey and his rain boots in action.
It was a warm day, shortly after Munchkin was born and I was at the playground with Monkey. He was running around the jungle gym while I spoke to another mother I had just met. Monkey started jumping in a large shallow puddle and this mom's son followed suit, gleefully playing around and splashing one another. A third little boy started happily stomping his feet in the water when his mother came running and started shouting at her son in another language. She quickly pulled him out of the puddle and then proceeded to pull our children out as well! Shocked, I went to Monkey, who was very confused, and told him that it was okay to splash his little heart out.
I know many parents are not pleased when their kids start puddle jumping. They don't want their kids' shoes to get ruined or their clothes to get wet, but I find puddles to be irresistible and fun. There's an element of surprise in every jump. How deep is it? How much water can I kick up? What kind of ripples will I make if I dip my toe in? Kids are curious and puddles are the perfect muse.
Parents are very willing to haul their kids--and a change of clothes--to a manmade play area with sprinklers and water jets, yet they groan when kids tackle some dirt and water on their own. As a kid, dancing in the rain and kicking up water in my front lawn form some of my happiest memories. Why can't this generation of children do the same?
Not too long after the playground incident, I got Monkey a pair of blue rain boots. Every time it rains, he asks for his boots and we head outside. He'll often change into them on the way home from school and I love to see his face light up as jumps in puddles the whole way home. I'm proud that he can find joy outdoors without an iPad or smart phone in sight.
Last year, I too got a pair of sturdy rain boots, so now we jump into puddles together. After all, life is too short to not revel in the joy of puddle jumping and I certainly don't want to miss out.
I know many parents are not pleased when their kids start puddle jumping. They don't want their kids' shoes to get ruined or their clothes to get wet, but I find puddles to be irresistible and fun. There's an element of surprise in every jump. How deep is it? How much water can I kick up? What kind of ripples will I make if I dip my toe in? Kids are curious and puddles are the perfect muse.
Parents are very willing to haul their kids--and a change of clothes--to a manmade play area with sprinklers and water jets, yet they groan when kids tackle some dirt and water on their own. As a kid, dancing in the rain and kicking up water in my front lawn form some of my happiest memories. Why can't this generation of children do the same?
Not too long after the playground incident, I got Monkey a pair of blue rain boots. Every time it rains, he asks for his boots and we head outside. He'll often change into them on the way home from school and I love to see his face light up as jumps in puddles the whole way home. I'm proud that he can find joy outdoors without an iPad or smart phone in sight.
Last year, I too got a pair of sturdy rain boots, so now we jump into puddles together. After all, life is too short to not revel in the joy of puddle jumping and I certainly don't want to miss out.
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