Today I spent the day with my SO and children at a local amusement and water park. The air was a bit chilly, and the sky cloudy, threatening rain, but school starts in a few days, so we took our chances with the last of the summer vacation. The day began with a giant argument between myself and my SO, over something that could generously be described as stupid, draped over something that was really pretty significant. As we left our driveway, I was miserable and anxious, anticipating a day of strained stoicism on both our parts, for the sake of the kids. But something interesting happened in the midst of watching our children joyfully fly down the twisty slides on cushions of water, or watching their surprise and exhilaration as a giant bucket of water poured on their waiting heads. Or when Ruth taught Eli how NOT to be afraid of the “spinny rides”. Our children succeeded in loosening the tightly clenched fists of our adult hearts so that, sitting on the beach chairs while our children were frolicking, we could have the conversation that got at the heart of the matter. Ironically, my SO also taught me a lesson in how to deal with the “spinny ride” I’m currently on. We made headway, helped along by the inadvertent wisdom, and contagious joy, of our children.

FInally out of my funk, it felt good to ride the roller coaster with Ruth, take Eli down the giant water slide, kiss my SO in the tunnel on the little train that tours the grounds, our children all the while laughing “get a room!” In the end, we all got wet and wild, had fun, and healed a little as a family.

A wild and precious day….