I think it's good to let kids go out and get wet and (gasp) dirty sometimes. Kids love to explore and what's more fun than exploring nature? I like letting them see God's creation in new ways. Getting wet requires planning or, at least, clean-up. It is worth it. More times than not, I cannot resist letting them splash in puddles or run in the rain. I smile when I see my kids enjoying being outside - rain or shine.
So... one day last month as I pulled the car into the garage, it began to hail. My kids (starting with my oldest) began begging to go out into the hail. I hestitated for a moment.
Some of my thoughts were: "What's the risk?" "What's the clean-up?" "Will they even like it?" "How long will they last in hail?"
I told them they could play outside if, and only if, they waited until I got my camera.
25 comments:
Don't you know that they could get pneumonia????
JUST KIDDING!!!! LOL!
My kids would love to run out in the hail!!
Some parents are just very protective! Too protective sometimes!
You've got to be the coolest momma ever!
My kids love playing in the rain. It's one of our favorite past times.
So long as there's no lightening, go to it!
Looks like they had fun. Did they last out there very long?
Thumbs up for playing in the rain :) It rained here on Saturday for the first time in MONTHS!!!! What did Ben and Jake do? Head for the door! haha I just told them to come inside if they saw lightening!! Have a great day :)
~Maggie
I love this idea! Great pictures too. The simplest things can be so much fun, can't they?
Have you seen this site? www.activekidsclub.com Their slogan is "No bad weather...just bad clothing"
I love letting my kids play in the rain. They haven't asked to play in the hail, but I think I'll suggest it next time! =]
You must be an awesome mom!
First of all, great TITLE! Love it!
Next, I love that you photographed their fun--what rewarding expressions for you. If you had any doubt, they themselves surely erased it.
Finally, I'm so sorry you got negative responses. I think that there is a big fear of the outdoors these days. We are an "inside society" in many ways, so used to climate control and safety standards that we deal with a lot of fear and apprehension over what we should and shouldn't allow our kids to do. Some parents might even fear being accused of neglect by letting their kids do something fun like this, so they err on NOT doing things.
There is an interesting book/blog called Free Range Kids. She's encouraging parents to loosen up.
We all have to find our comfort zone, but I hope we take enough risks that ensure our kids look back on their childhood someday and have more stories to tell than their top score on Mario Brothers.
Thanks for telling the story in words and pictures, and providing inspiration!
She is an awesome mom. Our kids are blessed and happy!
Too much fun to miss out on! My kids love hail. Their favorite thing to do when it is hailing is bounce on the trampoline--the hailstones roll into the dip when they are down and they fly up when they jump.
Good for you! I'd hate to be the kid of the person who left you the pneumonia comment...boring!
Lives are meant to be lived...kids are meant to play. They are the better for it too!
JJ--you are an awesome momma. I still love to play in the rain and hail! My sisters/brothers and I still jump in puddles trying to get each other wet. This is something they will treasure long into adulthood. Love love love it! :)
I think it has been proven that pneumonia is not caused by cold temps or being wet.
So cool!
You're a great mom, Jane Anne.
I'm with Ann, I love this title. Great pics of a great time of fun!
So much fun! I am 57 yrs old and when I was little I lived in town and when it rained we played in the gutter.....in our underwear!!
What fun. We love playing in the puddles and the different types of weather. No harm if you have no where to go and time to get cleaned up. Cute pictures.
Oh much fun is that?! My mom used to let me play in the rain and I do the same for my boys! They have so much fun and isn't that what growing up is all about; well at least part of it!!
Oh I love it! Some people don't know how to live....ha ha! When I volunteered in Alex's class one morning, it was raining..and Alex couldn't wait to go and play in it. A little girl said, "You let Alex play in the rain?" I said, "sometimes." she said, "my mommy doesn't let me do that." Awww...I wanted to take her home and let her play outside in it!
So sweet! Look at how much fun they are having! Go MOM!
We used to let our kids play in the rain! In fact, we even have a video of it....two actually.
Once we were in Florida and it was raining hard and we were trapped with a ton of other people under the eaves of a building.
The kids were getting antsy (they were younger) so we just told them to go play in the rain.
Off they went and they had a wonderful time! Pretty soon, other parents let their kids play too. Lots of kids splashing around.
Then the Florida sun eventually came back again and it dried the kids up good as new, lol!
BTW, yes, I would absolutely get a pedicure again.....I was just poking fun at it, lol!
~ Nan
Hey, I checked out this blog too! Aren't you proud of me? =0)
Playing in the hail!? Did they get any boinks on the head that hurt? OUCH! But the sign of a true blogger is that phrase "Wait til I get my camera!" I use that line ALLL the time! =0)
~Erica
I totally agree with you! Let 'em play!
Way to go!!! I've been waiting for the perfect chance to play in the rain with my kids. All kids need to know that moms can be fun. A little water won't hurt anyone =)
ouch! i think what i said actually had to do with getting pneumonia from not wearing their jackets while playing in the rain but maybe not. and it's true I am a pretty boring Mom - hopefully my kids won't hate me for it when they are older.
For the commenting record, my friend Kim was not the facebook friend I was referring to. :) Though I did wonder if she would think I had lost my mind when I let the kids go out in the hail!Lots of love to you, Kim... miss you, sweet friend.
Post a Comment