Summer Vacation Day 3: Another Rainy Day
I used to be fun. I used to like the rain. And then I had kids...
As a child I remember running around in the rain on Shelter Island with my friend Vanessa. We donned our bathing suits and had the best time and were positively giddy. We weren't even that little. When we were done we would put on dry clothes and enjoy a nice, warm cup of hot cocoa.
I remember setting a lemonade stand in front of my building, 1136 Fifth Avenue, with my friend Zoe. And then it rained. And then it poured. Monsoon-like! We stayed out in the rain and we made so much money that day!
In college, it was not uncommon to cut classes in a severe rainstorm. We'd watch Oprah and brew coffee in our coffee-makers that we weren't allowed to have in our dorm rooms! (Naturally, we would brave the wet weather for busy social calendars!)
I started to dislike rain after college. It's no fun walking to the train in the rain. And waiting for the train in the rain. And stepping out of Grand Central Station and getting splashed by taxis and cars and buses. Or misjudging what ended up to be a puddle a mile deep. And then walking a half of a mile to a mile to your offices uptown. And then sitting around all day in wet clothes. And then repeating the same old song and dance to get home. This is when I started to hate the rain.
Unless it was a weekend and I had no place to go. Then the rain was most welcoming. I would make my coffee or tea, bake some cookies or a loaf of bread, crawl under the covers and read for hours. Rain on the weekends was delightful and peaceful and relaxing.
And then I had kids.
(Why did I have kids?)
And I started to really hate the rain.
Dragging around babies in carriers while running errands in the rain is positively painful. More so than getting sprayed by a cab on 50th and Fifth... Dragging around toddlers and preschoolers in the rain is positively painful. And with children there is no such thing as hunkering down to watch a movie, read a book, enjoy a warm cup of tea. Children do not want to relax. In fact, I am positive, the rain -- even the mere thought of it -- drives children to want to run around the house like mad creatures... makes them want to drive you batty. Young children do not understand the concept of relaxing. They do not want to sit quietly with books or a good movie. No, they want to drive you crazy. Insane. To the Nut House. To drink!
It's harder when they are young. For sure.
When they get older you can take them to the movies or create a home theater with popcorn and candy. Even better because you can hunker down with blankets. And cuddle. I'm hoping my youngest will want to do this today. He has been the biggest bear of the group over the past couple of days.
Today I vow to try to like the rain again. We will run out and play and get soaking wet. We will come inside and dry off and have some
Baileys
hot cocoa. We will bake cookies. And eat the batter before it goes into the oven.
And pour ourselves a glass or two of wine.
We will then cuddle up on the couch and watch some movies together. And if they won't stay settled I have a whole spool rope and a case of Benadryl.
As a child I remember running around in the rain on Shelter Island with my friend Vanessa. We donned our bathing suits and had the best time and were positively giddy. We weren't even that little. When we were done we would put on dry clothes and enjoy a nice, warm cup of hot cocoa.
I remember setting a lemonade stand in front of my building, 1136 Fifth Avenue, with my friend Zoe. And then it rained. And then it poured. Monsoon-like! We stayed out in the rain and we made so much money that day!
In college, it was not uncommon to cut classes in a severe rainstorm. We'd watch Oprah and brew coffee in our coffee-makers that we weren't allowed to have in our dorm rooms! (Naturally, we would brave the wet weather for busy social calendars!)
I started to dislike rain after college. It's no fun walking to the train in the rain. And waiting for the train in the rain. And stepping out of Grand Central Station and getting splashed by taxis and cars and buses. Or misjudging what ended up to be a puddle a mile deep. And then walking a half of a mile to a mile to your offices uptown. And then sitting around all day in wet clothes. And then repeating the same old song and dance to get home. This is when I started to hate the rain.
Unless it was a weekend and I had no place to go. Then the rain was most welcoming. I would make my coffee or tea, bake some cookies or a loaf of bread, crawl under the covers and read for hours. Rain on the weekends was delightful and peaceful and relaxing.
And then I had kids.
(Why did I have kids?)
And I started to really hate the rain.
Dragging around babies in carriers while running errands in the rain is positively painful. More so than getting sprayed by a cab on 50th and Fifth... Dragging around toddlers and preschoolers in the rain is positively painful. And with children there is no such thing as hunkering down to watch a movie, read a book, enjoy a warm cup of tea. Children do not want to relax. In fact, I am positive, the rain -- even the mere thought of it -- drives children to want to run around the house like mad creatures... makes them want to drive you batty. Young children do not understand the concept of relaxing. They do not want to sit quietly with books or a good movie. No, they want to drive you crazy. Insane. To the Nut House. To drink!
It's harder when they are young. For sure.
When they get older you can take them to the movies or create a home theater with popcorn and candy. Even better because you can hunker down with blankets. And cuddle. I'm hoping my youngest will want to do this today. He has been the biggest bear of the group over the past couple of days.
Today I vow to try to like the rain again. We will run out and play and get soaking wet. We will come inside and dry off and have some