The requests by L started early in the morning. He was asking me if he could build a lake in our backyard. It was just one of those days where my energy level was not high enough to handle the idea and mess of mud play. I convinced him (which is no small feat in itself) to wait until the afternoon when we would have more time to clean up and I was hoping I would get a second wind.
He asked again when his brother took a nap…again I persuaded him into another activity. This is not our usual dance, more often than not I am willing and actually very happy to see my boys knee-deep in mud and enjoying themselves. For some reason I was resisting today.
The house was a disaster, it almost always is at the end of the day. My husband came home extra early so the quick clean up I sometimes attempt to do before he comes home didn’t happen yet…
It was so nice to see my husband so early in the evening. We were talking, cleaning up the house, making dinner together and the boys were playing outside. All was pleasant and just when I was thinking “wow, the boys are really playing well together I don’t hear much”…
I hear them announce ”hello, your pigs are coming to say hello!” at our back slider door.
Oh My Gosh! It was all that came out. My boys were absolutely covered in mud. They were very happy and oinking like pigs. They were proud of their muddy bodies and wanted to show us how much fun they were having.
I went from shocked to angry to adoring in less than 5 seconds. As they crawled back to their mud pit I followed…
and found out why they were so muddy. They were slamming shovels into the lake mud pit, spraying mud all over our house, themselves and really just everywhere.
We were well beyond the point of no return. It was futile for me to get angry at all the things wrong with this moment…they were so happy.
L was giving me suggestions all day about this moment. The mud was calling him and I finally needed to just listen and enjoy.
I can tell you that the main reason I could have perspective during this moment is because my husband was home.
Spraying off mud-caked wiggling boys with a garden hose and then loading dripping with mud boys in the bath, washing hair with screaming revved up boys, spraying mud off the house, cleaning the mud-caked hose, sweeping and mopping muddy footprints away and making sure dinner isn’t burning is all a lot easier to do with another working adult present.
Ahhh the mud…I know this scenario will play out again, our mud really does have magnetic powers.
Quiet kids always spells danger…
A great post, which made me chuckle and be thankful that I dont have such a large back garden… I dread to think what mess my kids could make.
Thanks again!
Mike
so true…quiet isn’t usually my favorite sound when it relates to my boys, unless they are sleeping
Thanks for reading.
Until recently, I had forgotten that, growing up, my mom always let me play in the mud and go outside half-naked in a rainstorm to play in the water as it poured from the sky. Even when I was 10 or 11 I remember my mom not stopping us as my brother, a friend and I threw mud at each other in our front yard (which was a mud pit every time it rained) – not missing the house in the battle. Your post reminded me of that joy I remember feeling when I played in the mud and rain, probably some of my finest memories. Now as a mom, I wonder how she had the energy and patience to deal with all that dirt and wetness, I know I usually don’t with my son. But I think I was lucky and I think your boys are lucky to have a mommy that ends up laughing at two little piggies at the back door.
They are really lucky their Dad came home early from work! I would not have been laughing and able to have such perspective. Usually I am up for seeing their joy when they are so muddy. The clean-up is exhausting and really not fun when it is just me. I love these moments though and I love hearing your memory Johanna. Those childhood memories you write about are exactly why I try so often to say “yes” to their mess. There is nothing like hearing joyful squeals from my boys
This post has me LOL. Your boys really did get a good start at making a lake in your backyard. Thank you so much for sharing this at The Outdoor Play Party.
Yep they did almost make a lake in our yard
Happy to share I really enjoy the Outdoor Play Party. Glad you enjoyed our mud story.
Nice to know I’m not the only one who does a “quick clean up attempt” before the husband gets home!
I think your little piggies are adorable… and kudos for being able to enjoy the moment 
Thank you Liz. The quick clean up attempts are quickly destroyed so they must happen with in moments of my husband walking in the door! I was happy I could enjoy this moment too…some are easier than others
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