[JRTJH]

Rainy days are a great time for the "When I was your age, we walked 5 miles to school, uphill both ways" kind of stories... Not necessarily the "embellished ones" but rather the, "know your roots" kind of stories. Things that kids seldom forget, even though they probably won't ever mention it again, until they're in their 30's or 40's and they "shock hell out of you" by recalling, "Dad, do you remember when we had that green trailer and we were in the mountains and you told us about your grandpa and his white shirt? You know, when you used to fight not to have to sit behind him because he spit tobacco juice out the window??? Do you remember that? ".... It's surprising or maybe even amazing that after 40 years, a 7 year old remembers something like that.... Or the time they walked into the kitchen on Christmas Eve, just as you were rolling their bike into the living room and you thought they didn't see???

Rainy days are great times to pass on the stories your Dad or Grandpa told you when you were their age... Even if they don't seem to be listening, in 40 years, you'll be surprised what they bring up in conversations.....

An hour spent, "just talking" to a 7 or 8 year old, engaging them to talk to you as well.... Cherished moments in family life that will be remembered for a lifetime. Don't waste those rainy days. Quite often they are the highlight of an otherwise "unremarkable weekend"....