I’m not sure what came over us this morning, I’m blaming the rain sending everyone a bit loopy. Liam and I got a bit carried away with organising creative art in the kitchen.

I started with bubble painting, which they absolutely loved because, you know, paint and bubbles are a recipe for mess, chaos and sheer delight. Unfortunately it was a complete flop and didn’t work at all. There was coloured bubble mixture everywhere and no lovely bubble pictures. But they had fun.

So then Liam suggested marble painting. Which definitely produced more successful artwork, but the price we had to pay involved paint covered marbles bouncing all around the kitchen.

Giddy with artistic success, Liam brought out string and finished the trio of abstract art with worm pictures. By now there were drying pictures and paint all over the kitchen, and we still hadn’t had coffee, so we decided that lesson should come to an end.

So we went for something a little more science based and made frog life cycle books. The big excitement of this activity was me bringing out my paper cutter, which everyone wanted a go at, and I narrowly missed losing my fingers in their eagerness to be involved. By now it felt like that was sufficient learning and creativity for all of us, so we opted for a YouTube education via Numberjacks, whilst Liam and I hid with coffee.

What is it about rain that sends children wild? There was some serious sofa leaping going on, so I gave them an obstacle course instead. But by mid afternoon we decided a welly walk was needed.

There were some who wholeheartedly approved.

Others opted to go around the puddles, which the small boys couldn’t understand at all. ‘But Mummy you’ve got wellies! WHY won’t you paddle?!’

Despite all the persuasion/direction needed to get everyone out the house, the arguments over not taking umbrellas/importance of wearing coats etc etc, it always lifts the mood tone when we get outside. We rewarded it with hot chocolate and a film for the kids, tea and a sit down for the parents.

We started talking about preparing for a return to school at dinner. How we’ll need to get up a bit earlier next week, whether some children would like to drive past school beforehand. How many sets of stationery I need to purchase, and whether their shoes still fit.

Different children manifest the anxiety over all the changes in different ways – not settling at night for some, overly sensitive and frequent tears for others, irritability for others. I watched a helpful video I was sent by the Psycology service today, which reminded parents that prior to managing our children’s fears we need to try and work out, what triggers my fears? What in all of this is my worry, and am I putting it onto them?

I know from years of frequent changes that when I hear of a new plan, I often get grumpy, objecting to it vocally or internally. Once I’ve thrashed it out in my heart and head, I gradually move to acceptance. In my dim and distant past I remember studying change, people’s responses, and management theories of it, and I don’t think I’m alone in my responses. Change isn’t easy, but it is inevitable, and I need to be aware of my own weaknesses in it, as I try and support my family through all the emotions of it too. Acknowledging all of the feelings, validating them for myself and the kids is helpful and necessary.

But most helpful and necessary of all, is lifting my eyes upwards to the One who doesn’t change.

‘God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?’ – Numbers 23:19

We started out this morning all a bit tired and grouchy. And I knew there had to be a choice, to get bogged down by all the hard stuff, all the unknowns and things I can’t control, all the tensions amongst the kids. Or I could hand over again all the things I can’t control and have no answers too, and choose the things I can-to ask for help, to be grateful, and to make choices to love. Even even it’s hard.

I didn’t and don’t get it right a lot of the time, today and every day. But I’m grateful for today, for puddles and coffee and crazy art making. And I’m grateful that tomorrow is a new day full of possibilities. And hopefully less rain.