Rain, Rain - Don't go away!

Here’s my favorite picture from two year ago. It was taken on one rainy summer day. It is hard to remember that day with the thick blanket of snow outside, but pictures don’t lie—I got a proof of the wonderfulness of that day. It was a rainy day, one of those that give the meaning to the idiom, “raining cats and dogs.” It poured relentlessly!

Cherry (big girl) was looking out of the window. I noticed she stayed a little longer, starring ahead. She turned around slowly, still holding back the curtain. She said, “Mom do you want to go outside? You know, run around in the rain like when you were a child?”

I was stumped! What!? I thought to myself.

You see, I have been regaling the children with tales of growing up in Nigeria— the times we spent outside, the meaning of proverbs and old sayings, the trips to the "village" to visit my grandma, how my mother would have reacted to some of the things they do and say. I often remind them of how lucky they are to be born in these times—these are easier times to be children. But I digress.

They love these stories, and they laugh at the ludicrousness of some of them. Along the way, I must have mentioned that my favorite thing as a child was running out in the rain. So, there I was, being asked to re-create it for her.

At first, I said no.

“It is crazy out there, Cherry. Look." I said, pulling back the other side of the curtain.

 “No way am I going out in the rain,” I said emphatically.

I have work to do—I must finalize a paper I am putting together.” “This is the best time to drink my favorite chai tea and flip through my Oprah magazine.”

“Not today—maybe another time.”

I rattled off all a million excuses to stay inside. And, let me tell you, they were all perfectly valid reasons. And, I have not even mentioned my hair. That thought did it for me! It must be a no. No!!!

I turned and walked away from the window, heading to the kitchen to start the kettle, and as I turned away, I could see Cherry's face fall. She looked sad.

But she did not give up.

She recruited Maya (our resident sunshine) to plead with me. "Please, Mom, please, Mom—let’s go!" she said in her cutest voice. I gave her the eye as if to say, “Stay out of this." I can’t seem to say no to that girl.

After a while, I thought to myself, “Why not?” Here is an opportunity create a new experience—so what’s stopping you? I always tell the kids to step out of their comfort zone and try something new. So, "Why not?" I said again, this time aloud.

"Let’s do it, Cherry, but not with you, Maya,” I said as I dashed upstairs to get dressed.

Shortly after that, dressed in our comfortable clothes, Cherry and I stepped out into the pouring rain, without umbrellas or raincoats for protection. We laughed out loud as the first dump of rain fell on us. As we adjusted to the sudden wetness, we leisurely strolled into the forest.

We are very fortunate to live close to the woods. A few steps from our house put us right at the entrance of a secluded green space with an abundance of vegetation, trees too numerous to name (We know they are all different from the design on their bark; we once checked them out and took pics and compared them. Pardon the digression!).

The kids and I have explored that forest many times, but walking in the rain as we did that day felt different. Everything was in its enhanced state—the trees were alive, and all the forest colors, green, brown, yellowish, and red-orange were even more pronounced.

"For the first time, I understood Ralph Emerson's words: The Earth laughs in flowers." She must have been very happy that day because the wildflowers were out in their glamour - an absolute beauty to behold!

We heard the different sounds the rain makes as it hits the leaves, we took pictures, many pictures of the raindrops barely hanging off leaves, the rain running down the tree trunk, the water ripples and circles created as the rain meets the lake.

The scent of the trees and flowers enveloped the space. It was peaceful. Calm. Healing! The experience can only be described as magnifique (en français) and nothing less.

 We must have been out there for a while (at least it felt long), but just as we were settling into the enjoyment of it, the rain slowed down from a pour to a trickle. We were sad that the fun was ending. We wanted it to go on. . . but, alas, it had to be done -- we must make our way home.

As I unpeeled my sticky clothes from my body, I thought to myself: This is the kind of parent I wish I could be every day — spontaneous, creator of good memories, fun, outdoorsy, all the good stuff. But parenting is not this way at all — the zillion things that one MUST do in any parenting day sometimes overshadow all the best intentions.

There always seems to be something going on — a sick child, some all-important work/school-related deadlines to meet, homework to finalize before dinner (which I must then cook), the shuttling to extracurricular activities, the teachers’ meetings, tomorrow’s science test, the incessant worries when a child is not doing well at school, the class presentation that is due tomorrow, a 7 p.m. visit to the emergency room, the volunteer board meeting, the funding proposal that must be sent out or else… there is always something. It seems that as I finalize one task, another one seems to require my urgent attention. It is endless. It's little wonder that to be spontaneous, play, be silly, create happy moments, or to slow down only makes it in the latter to-do list.

Having considered all these things and wanting more for myself and out of life, I have understood that the task of enjoying and savouring life must be done despite whatever is going on. It cannot be postponed to whenever things calm down because it may never happen. Things happen.

I have realized that there is no glory in being overly busy all the time. It is not a badge of honor. One must work hard, be ambitious and driven to achieve life goals but never at the expense of the enjoyment of the present life for as Seneca fitly said: “The whole future lies in uncertainty: live immediately.”

I am learning (not using "have learned"—working on it) to put aside all that must be done even for a very short time and do whatever the heck I want to do because there is always going to be something!

I have found that deliberately stopping to create simple and good moments adds meaning to living. Otherwise, it is all routine and never-ending running from task to task and constant problem-solving.

I have also found that everything I need to create such beautiful moments costs little or nothing at all and is mostly within my reach or in abundance right outside my door. And more than anything else,

I have understood that what helps one the most (at least for me) in difficult times is not all the achievements or accolades received, but friendship, family, closeness to nature and a belief in something bigger than me. And, that being overly busy sometimes gets in the way of nurturing and enjoying these lifelines.

So, here’s hoping that there will be many more “Why not?” moments for the kids and me and more enjoyment of the simple pleasures in life. And, I wish you the same: many happy moments with your families and friends and, of course, good health to explore all that life has to offer even as we continue to do all that we must do.

Blessings .