It's Raining Mommy Redemption

Yesterday, I went in search of cover for my kids in preparation for StormWatch 2010, and we are now equipped with, count ‘em, 4 umbrellas! This is seriously a big deal in my house.

For the last 20 years, if it rained, I got wet. No biggie, right? The wet dog look was just so me. I couldn’t be bothered with pesky umbrellas. The Search and Rescue to find an umbrella in my house was simply never worth it, and I was, frankly, accustomed to the Debbie dart-and-dash run from A to B. It was what it was. And my kids were following course.

So what’s with the umbrella arsenal now? Mom Guilt, of course—that deafening drone, which eventually can’t be ignored.

You see a few weeks ago when it rained, I saw all the other kids in their super cute raingear, fun boots and trendy chic slickers. My kids? I preached the “What, you’re gonna melt? You’ll be fine!” Or I’d send ‘em with Daddy’s boring black pop-up—IF I were lucky enough to find it in my two-second check out the door. Then, it happened, I saw THAT look from my girl. The one you catch every once in awhile when you see your kids look at other kids with kid-envy and love for others’ mommies. Ouch, right in the heart. My girl’s friend had one of those perfectly charming, clear, bubble, old-school umbrellas that poured a message of “love and a well-cared child” (ok, I exaggerate, but you know what I mean).

So yesterday, we were off to the store in search of cover and Mommy Redemption. I didn’t find the old-school charm, but we found penguins and zebras fixes that will do just fine. Plus, I picked my girl up some polka dot Paul Frank rainboots on sale. Wow, Mommy-score bonus points.

So we’re weatherproofed, and ... I’m getting there, as usual … a drop-by-drop journey to be “one of those moms” who always has it all together. A girl can dream. And, let’s be serious, so can my kids.

Stay safe this rainy SoCal week.