There Will Be Mud

The girls have been spending a lot of time lately playing and exploring the great outdoors. Typically it is just a matter of minutes before shoes are shed and bare toes squish slick green grass, although in our backyard we have to watch for doggie land mines, if you know what I mean. We’ve been taking family walks at the nearby greenway and going up to the local playground.

It seems that there are some innate childhood rules to playing outside.

If there is a nearby mud pile, even as tiny as a dinner plate, they will find it.

If there is a hard metal surface nearby, they will bonk their head on it.

If there is a tree with suitable limbs for climbing, they will scale it.

If there is a branch that can be fashioned into a hiking stick, they will grab it.

If there is a swing, they will run to it.

If there is rough asphalt, a knee will be skinned on it.

If there is a friendly neighborhood dog, they will pet it.

If there is a hill, they will roll down it.

If there is a butterfly, they will spot it.

With each skinned knee, muddy shoe, drippy popsicle, and grass stain, I relive some of my own summer memories of childhood.

17 comments

  1. Renee says:

    That just reminded me, when were in HOuston a couple of weeks ago, we were at this little playground at the Kemah Boardwalk, watching John M. play, and there was a little boy his age (his name was Dominic b/c we heard his parents call it out over and over again) and everytime Dominic would see this one tiny little water puddle in this one particular part of the playground, he had to stomp his foot in it as hard as he could to make the water splash. No matter how many times they told him to stop, he couldn’t resist. It was too cute and just one of those things that kids can’t help but do, I guess.

    Renee’s last blog post..Beach Bums

  2. Connie says:

    How true!

    My 2 year old met his first friendly Irish Setter last weekend! It was great to see him with the dog.

  3. Yvie says:

    I remember seeing lots of huge butterflies and dragonflies in my childhood. I used to chase them, screaming and laughing at life’s simple pleasures.

    Ah the bruises, I’ve got a lot of them, some the size of a penny–a product from my joyful childhood.

    Then I remember, my son finds any treasure hiding, from closet to the grass. Just a while ago he just chewed on a AA battery. I was like, where on earth did he get that?

  4. Amy says:

    I had a hard time finding shoes without mud this morning. I also have big issues with grass stains but man, I wish I had the energy to run and enjoy summer like my kids!

  5. Jenni says:

    With mine it seems to be:

    If there is a patch of un-scarred skin, they will scrape it.

    If there are no band-aids in the house, they will bleed.

    And my favorite…

    If they have a new outfit on, they will find some mud, freshly-mowed grass or brambles.

    Jenni’s last blog post..Warning: Stereotypical Mom Blog Post

  6. Melinda says:

    When I was a kid, my mom was always careful to ensure that my shoes never left my feet.

    Now, I go barefoot virtually all the time. Indoors, outdoors… doesn’t matter!

    Melinda’s last blog post..long day of not earning enough money

  7. krissy says:

    I love playing in the mud myself. After a large rainstorm this past weekend myself and a bunch of kids and my friend decided to go body surfing in the puddles. It was a blast. It’s just mud, and it washes off……

    Happy Summer!

    krissy’s last blog post..Another night out……

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