As a mother and a teacher, I try to remind myself to look at the world through the eyes of a child. While it’s easy to forget the simple things in the midst of our busy lives, it certainly can put things in perspective. Yesterday, as we pulled into the driveway after a big rainstorm had hit, my daughter asked if she could play in the puddles. I told her she could as soon as it stopped raining. A little while later, with a big smile on her face, she put on her rain boots and coat and told me she was ready.
A few things I thought of as I watched her play . . .
1. Don’t forget the silver linings. As we complain about the rainstorms of life, let’s not forget the opportunities that might arise from them.
2. Make new friends. A squiggly worm caused my daughter to ask, “What’s that?” When I told her, she replied, “He’s my friend.”
3. It’s okay to change your mind. After seeing the rest of the worms, most of whom hadn’t made it through the rain, my daughter said, “I don’t like worms. They’re scary.” I had to laugh, but I do agree with her.
4. Share the joy with others. Her brother had originally opted out of the puddle adventure, but when he saw how much fun she was having, he poked his head out the door and asked if he could play too. She welcomed him into the puddles with open arms and was sure to point out the icky worms all over the place.
Now, all of that being said, I’m ready to learn some lessons from sunshine and spring weather. ;)
Can you imagine what you could do with those?! While there is a lighthearted tone to the book, Ms. Lundquist also deals with real issues like friendship and secrets.
