Writings by me

Weather is never really something I paid much attention to before having kids. Or at least bad weather didn’t have the ability to make or break my day before.

Enter children. The organisation of parenting is already a mission, packing everything they need, planning what to do at weekends and during holidays, what they’re going to wear, how you’re going to transport them etc. Throw in a rainy day and the stress increases tenfold. Because not only do you have to do all of the above, you now have to factor in the following:

• Does your rain cover work? I went through at least 5-10 rain covers when the boys were in pushchairs. I don’t have the best track record with things like this anyway but the amount I went through seems excessive. And the tears (mine and theirs) mingling with the raindrops on discovering that despite my best efforts, they were still soaked still makes me feel a little twitchy years later.
• Do you have enough money to go out and inevitably have to pay for some entertainment? The library is great, but if you’re making an effort to go out despite the rain, you need somewhere that is going to last long enough to guarantee a good return on your effort. 
• Can you afford to buy food to ‘eat in’ as your normal bench will be sodden and any outdoor picnicking plans impossible (unless you have a covered bandstand – what a lifesaver!). We’ve relied far too much on Greggs in the past…
• How’s your laundry pile? Are you mentally prepared enough for the mud and wet clothes that a rainy outdoor outing will bring? As much as getting out in the first place is hard, coming back in soaked and muddy and probably cold, could be enough to send you over the edge, if your laundry pile is already overflowing (which mine often is), not to mention muddy footprints across the carpet.

….I’m exhausted just recalling this. Many days, just attempting to plan the above, meant an equally frustrating day staying in the house and struggling with cabin fever.

If you’re slightly more robust than me, and the above doesn’t phase you, then the best defence is a good offence: invest in waterproof trousers, an all-in-one rainsuit and a GOOD RAINCOVER. The all-in-one rainsuit is particularly cute and the thought of never using one again (my youngest is now too old) is enough to add a definite pro to the pros and cons list of having a third.

It’s not all doom and gloom though; if you’re out on a rainy day, you get the joy of returning home for a cuppa and a blanket and a cuddle. We’ve also had wonderful rain walks. One particular memorable walk, after a grim Sunday stuck inside, involved counting snails (24!) and an extremely thrilling game of pooh-sticks…after all that moaning, I’d conclude that sometimes, as often is the way with parenting, all that mental prep is worth it while we wait for those drier, sunnier days.