Rainy Days

There are very few things that I enjoy more than rainy days, especially if it results in days off from school.  I know that it is probably not appropriate to wish for rain at the misfortune of farmers and people whose paychecks depend on the weather, but there are just some times when a teacher needs a day off from school that doesn't require making lesson plans. 

I have found that God sometimes answers my prayers, but not always to my liking.  For example, this past April, when there was a huge deluge, school WAS in fact cancelled. Unfortunately, I was in D.C. for the Spring meeting, so I did not benefit from that day off at all. That was not the first time that happened.  I seem to recall that happening in Coffee County as well (where I was already out and school got cancelled).  I can just see God up there right now: "Silly girl, wishing for rain.  I'll give you rain.  Let me see when your next professional day is scheduled."  I guess that just proves that God has a sense of humor. 

One of the joys of living in a rural community was that there was always the chance that school might be cancelled when it rained a lot.  As a former Yank, this was akin to "Snow Days."  But I cannot testify that students would go out an play in the rain like you did on a snow day although it would be pretty funny if they did.  (Maybe you all are writing about your rainy day rituals right now.)  I remember when I lived up north how few snow days we actually had although the bus did actually get stuck in front of our house once.  If and when we did have a snow day, we would get bundled up to go out and play in the snow for like five minutes.  Getting dressed always took longer than the amount of time that we spent outside.

I wonder what the "Rain Day" activities could be for our students.  Clearly it would depend on the age of the student, but I'm sure fun could be had by playing in the rain.   The younger kids could get dressed in their raincoats and wellies (oh, how I love me some wellies!) and jump through as many puddles as they could to see how soaked they could get.  The older kids could go bogging.  Even city kids could join in the fun by driving down roads known to flood like River (appropriately named), Ashley, and Forrest.

Or they could stay in an bake cookies and watch movies.  Maybe even read a book.  One of my favorite families, the Klimkos, have a lot of rituals and traditions that they have instilled in their only child Katie, who is about to start her second year at Harvard Law.  When Katie was little, at least once a month she and her dad would have a "date" where they would do whatever Katie wanted.  One of my favorite stories is the time that they went to a car wash.  They have shown me that an only child can grow up to be socially well-adjusted, and for some reason, I think that when Katie was little, Liz must have had a rainy day plan.                                      

As I get older, I sometimes think about the rituals and traditions that I will pass on to my child.  (I theorize that I will probably only have one at this point.)  But until then, I guess I will just practice with Lorelai.  She, after all, loves to eat and sleep.