For some reason, this evocative photo of a heavy rainfall designing patterns on the lake reminds me of the TV commercial where a woman and child are about to take a bike ride when it suddenly begins to rain. I’ve always liked the optics of that ad (though I can’t begin to recall what it’s for). Because the mom cleverly salvages the day by going for a walk, the ad always causes me a little pang of regret– a missed opportunity–something I never did with my own boys.

Most mothers know why I didn’t do that, because they also don’t go traipsing in the rain with their kids. We say we’re too busy, the kids are currently occupied, or they’re already driving us crazy with bad behavior. If so, why would we aggravate ourselves further by taking on another guaranteed cleanup? Plus, their raucous behavior doesn’t warrant a treat.

All true, but just as I look back and regret not doing it, I can imagine them looking back and remembering the sheer joy of the day Mom took took them outside and let them stomp in the puddles and romp in the rain.