Today was Cooper and I all day long. Husband was going to be home late as he is attending a Men’s Bible Study at our church. 4:30 rolls around and Cooper is starting to get a little stir crazy as well as bored of all his toys (he is in need of some new gadgets). I bundled us up, got the stroller out and off we go….well for a little bit… we got a quarter of a mile in or so and it started to sprinkle some rain drops. I made sure Coopers blanket was wrapped tight around him, pulled my hood up and started walking a bit faster. At this point the drops were very large and the rain was really come down at this point, so much so, I began to run, we were getting soaked and there was no “quick” way back. Our afternoon stroll turned into a quick run for me and a quick stroller jaunt for Cooper. As we returned home we had to quickly get his jammies on and change my clothes as it was pretty cold and his little fingers were quite “fridged,” so to speak. My hair was soaked, as well as the entire stroller, I think the sun visor helped prevent his head from getting wet while the remainder of his body was left out in the rain to get drenched. Poor boy. We definitely were not prepared for a downpour but such is life.

Before this catastrophe hit, the first part of the stroll was nice and leisurely, though it didn’t last long. As it begins to get dark early these Fall days, I noticed all the homes with their porch lights on, sounds of music playing in the background, families sitting around the dinner table all cozied in their homes. Okay the music wasn’t playing but it was in my head as each house I passed had the same scene playing: Lights on, dinner table set and kids running around as they await their dinner to be served.

As each home I passed had the same scene, I was very happy to see this, as most homes don’t partake in family dinners these days. (Our family was actually one of those families tonight) Most are running to and from sporting events, picking kids up from school, ballet, piano lessons and so forth. The after school “activities” are endless these days. I have a girlfriend who was telling me recently about her sons Hockey practices and they run til 10pm on a school night. I was shocked, utterly shocked! When is homework getting done, where is the family time, kids being kids and playing rather than be coached in the high pressure sports?

All of this to say, I was really taken aback when I saw the glorious family scene as I walked passed each home this evening. They may still have the sporting events, homework and so forth, but they took the time to sit down as a family which in turn made my heart happy. Even though we had dinner without the hubby, Cooper and I sat down together and enjoyed our carrot-soup, pasta and bread. :)