Several weeks ago, the kids and I were at a toy store. This was a truly momentous occasion because, for the most part, I avoid toy stores. (Too many opportunities for fits, melt-downs, or over-spending, if you ask me.)
But as part of one of our summer fun outings, we stopped by a store, and I told the kids they could each get one item of their choice (within reasonable price limits, of course).
C. (11) agonized forever for a while, and finally chose a nifty magnetic dart board which now hangs in our garage.
L.(4) wanted only one thing: an umbrella.
Seriously? An umbrella? Yes.
Apparently, he was sick and tired of having to share my umbrella with me, and I hadn’t seen fit, during the first four years of his life, to get him his own. So although I tried to persuade him that he really wanted a car or a nerf football, he remained determined.
An umbrella, it was.
And yesterday afternoon, he finally got to use it. As the rain began to sprinkle, L. asked with glee, “Can I go outside and use my UMBRELLA??”
At first, he was content to just stand in the rain and hold the umbrella.
But I guess that got boring very quickly, because he soon decided that what he really wanted to do was ride his bike and use the umbrella at the same time.
The idea held potential. And he very cleverly attempted to somehow loop the umbrella’s handle around the bike’s handlebars.
But alas, he still almost ran into the car in his attempt to fend off rain and maneuver down the driveway at the same time.
After a few more attempts to combine bike-riding and umbrellas, he decided to come back in the house, take off his soggy shoes, and retire the umbrella for the evening. But I have no doubt that future rainy days will hold further adventures for L. and the umbrella.
Oh to get excited by such a simple thing as an umbrella again! Yeah for L!
Umbrellas are “grown up” things, and we know that L is determined to be just like his grown ups (sooner rather than later).
Of course, things often go differently than we planned when we get to use our umbrellas (or other grown up things).
So, it is nice when our kids struggle with bikes and umbrellas, we can bring them in, dry them off, and give them a hug. I just wish all their struggles would be that way.
We went to TRU a while ago to get my older son a new bike during a Schwinn sale. Both boys had been begging for their own umbrellas and where thrilled to pick them out. Now when there’s even a drop of rain, they must have their umbrellas. The kids in the neighborhood love when it rains, and I love seeing a parade of colorful umbrellas going past my window!
How sweet! My daughter went to Utah with her grandma last year and one of the things she bought with her spending money was an umbrella. It surprised me, but they must have special appeal to young ones somehow.
I found your blog through a post you left on “Unfinished Work.” What a delight it was for me to visit! The theme and colors are so creative. I also enjoyed your post about the umbrella. Oh to be like a child again enjoying the special treat of an umbrella.
Amanda was big on having an umbrella when she was about L’s age. She used it occasionally, but just having it was enough.
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