Although I always feel meloncholy as summer fades with the color of the leaves, I look forward to several October traditions. A trip to the Little Farmer is one I get most excited about even after 15 years. Luckily I got to bring Kaden this year and every corner of the farm becomes a new experience when shared with a 4 year old.
I was reminded of a couple of important lessons though....
Trust
Part 1. An old metal trough turned into a sink still looks like farm equiptment to a child and convincing him it was ok to wash his hands in it was quite a trick. Finally after seeing it in action, he relented and had fun with it. In his mind, he was not about to jump into something that didn't quite look right, he needed a bit more proof.
Part 2. There is a picture (above) of Kaden in full leap into my arms from the hay bale. If you had been watching you would have seen the process of figuring out whether the giant stacks were sturdy. After some physical proof, he decided he would climb them but with my help. I was thrilled when it took only a few more minutes for him to start climbing on his own, scrambling to the top and yelling "Look at me". The picture of him mid-leap doesn't tell the whole story, the story of promises. To catch him, to promise him I wouldn't let him fall and to repeat each promise twenty times. The look on his face as he jumped was priceless. Lips scrunched and twisted, fierce concentration and blind trust. I felt a twist in my chest part admiration for his bravery in jumping and part validation because there is nothing like the blind trust of an animal or child to make you feel like the best person in the world!
Part 3. Don't trust the weather forecast when you are heading to a farm and the storms are supposed to go around you.
Get Wet!
We could hear the thunder for a bit before it got to us and with the first couple of rumbles I didn't think too much of it. My brother (also star photographer for the day) pulled up the radar and it still looked like it shouldn't be much of an issue. The rumbling claps got a bit louder and the clouds a bit darker so we decided to head to the bakery barn but only after promising five times we would come back to the hay bales. On our walk over to the bakery, the skies opened up and the words that come to my mind are torrential and downpour. It was the kind of rain that forces you to pull over, because even the wipers can't keep up. We made it to the barn which isn't a bad place to wait since it is filled with apples, pies and muffins. Once our shopping was done, we tried waiting for a bit along with too many other people under a small section of roof that jetted out toward the orchard. As we waited, a tug on my hand pulled my attention down and Kaden timidly told me how much fun it would be to splash in the puddles and play in the rain.
I knew what he meant, although now in my 40's, one of my favorite times to run is when it is raining. There is something soothing and magical about the feel of it, so whenever possible I grab my shoes and go.
My immediate response was "go for it!" After checking my face to make sure I was serious he stuck his head out, then pulled back in. Again, he tested the feel and stayed out a bit longer. Then with one more encouragement from he, he was out and splashing, stomping, and running in an effort to get as wet as possible. Standing there watching him giggle and play having the time of his life, made me smile along with every adult standing there watching. I had anticipated his next move, grabbing my hand and pleading with me to join him. Grabbing him in my arms, flipping him over face to the sky I told him his goal was to catch as many raindrops with his mouth as he could. He laid on his back as I ran him in a circle and the smiles on his face is printed in my heart forever. Mouth wide open, half smiling and half catching, giggling and sticking his tongue out all at once, it was one of those moments which gets captured forever for him and for me.
My mom sitting under the awning commented that when she was a kid, she used to love to play in the rain. She could even remember where they went to play and what they did, telling the story with a smile on her face. As I thought about it later, smiling with the memory I thought about all the adults standing there smiling at him as we splashed. No one joined us in our silly game of catching the raindrops, but I didn't expect them too.
I am sure for many the rain put an end to their day or ruined what their hopes had been for it. Stopping by the animal pen one more time before we left I was wet and cold with a tiny hand holding mine asking why the goats were hiding and didn't they know how much fun it was to splash.
With no logical answer for his questions, I made up silly little boy answers and in the squeeze of his hand, felt the squeeze of my heart. Through my sogginess and chill I was never more grateful that somehow I haven't grown up enough to join the other adults under the awning. As adults many of us do a good job of talking about living life and finding time for the playful moments. It can't be done under the awning and sheltered from the storm.
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