Water pouring down my face

Beautiful, earth-quenching rain is keeping us indoors today.

It is relieving in so many ways. The pressure to go outside, to get fresh air, to fill the empty moments with toddler-friendly activities, none of which are usually fun for me, are gone.

Inside, there is plenty we can do together that doesn't involve chasing two babies running in two directions, usually near some pile of dog poop left behind by The Dog. My worries of which plants could cause an illness, which mulch pile will be destroyed and how much grass will end up in my hair and their diapers are given the day off.

Instead of climbing in and out of lawn chairs, getting stuck and needing help out, they're shredding papers for me while sitting in and standing in plastic tubs. Oh, and taking off their clothes. The paper is everywhere. So are their clothes.

I am relieved. My shoulders are sinking away from my ears and deep breaths are coming to me after a night of hardly a wink of sleep.

We won't walk today either. That means no stroller swatting, poking and screaming matches to supervise. No strange characters to pass by near the homeless station or the stop. Of course, it also means no farmer's market produce to fill out plates the next couple days.

Instead, we'll just listen to the drops as they hit the metal roof. We'll watch as the water pours past our house and travels blocks and blocks away.

We'll play dress up, color and listen to great music. We'll nap. Maybe I will, too.

I'll dream of water pouring down my face, cleansing the worries away.