The Little Things

 

This morning, I was sitting in my chair in front of my window, talking to a friend on the phone, when I saw a mother with her two toddlers stomping around in fresh rain puddles in the parking lot. Unbeknownst to me, it instantly brought a big smile to my face. Seeing them laughing and running around with each other made my heart so happy!

Then it came to me; I honestly can't remember the last time I saw kids playing in rain puddles. I should have gone out and thanked that mom. Thank you for making me smile, but more importantly, for encouraging your kids to enjoy the little things life gives us.

Watching them instantly brought back memories of me and my siblings playing in the rain puddles in the parking lot of our townhome complex when I was a teen. Even if it was still raining, the joy of going out there barefoot and stomping around, splashing each other, and laughing brought us so much happiness. There is a nine-year span between the three of us, yet at that moment, it didn't matter how old we were (I was actually 18 or 19) - we were all innocent at heart, thoroughly enjoying such a simple life pleasure. 

Looking back, who knows what was in those rain puddles—oil, nails, glass, and so on? Yet, nobody cared! In fact, I applaud my mom for letting us go out there with bare feet. If one of us got hurt, then one of us got hurt. However, I guarantee it wouldn't have stopped us from doing it again. I know we Gen Xers say it constantly—it was a more innocent time back then. Kids could be kids and get dirty and play outside.

And maybe it was. Yet, now that we're parents when did jumping in rain puddles become uncool or discouraged? When did we become such worrywarts? Our parents weren't, so what happened to us between childhood and parenthood?? It may be the internet and social media's fault, or our nation has been on such a downward spiral for decades. Who knows when we became paranoid about everyone and everything? I don't have the answers, and I, too, sheltered my children to a degree when they were much younger (they're in their 20s now). However, I pride myself on raising them to be self-reliant, have common sense, be kind to others, and be intellectual thinkers. 

However, after watching the mom with her two toddlers stomping in the puddles, I realized this has become a lost childhood experience. I want to commend the parents who do encourage their kids to get dirty or play outside after it rains - to be innocent kids for a little bit longer and make those memories before society gets its hands on them.