Off we went yesterday to a birthday party for one of Vera’s friends.  It was being held at a local park.  I try to be prepared and the last party that happened at that park was on a rainy day.  I thought ahead and brought a change of clothes for each of the kids so that they could get wet and change in to dry clothes whenever they were ready. 

I was not as thoughtful this time.  It wasn’t raining yesterday, but it did rain the day before and there were strategically placed puddles all over the playground.  I of course gave the obligatory warning that they were to stay out of the water.  They responded as was to be expected by heading directly to the nearest puddle and jumping right in.

I monitored the activities and as long as they were just getting a little wet I overlooked it but occasionally would jump in to stop over the top splashing or soaking in the water. At one point I looked up and Vera was sitting on the edge of one of the jungle gyms with her legs hanging over.  There was a boot on one foot and the other only had a sock.  I told her to put her missing shoe on.  The response was for her to jump sock footed into the puddle, at which point I realize that the boot was laying in a puddle.  She picks up the shoe and then runs to the back of the jungle gym, climbs up and sits where she was originally.  Thinking the problem is resolved, I resumed my conversation.

I minute or so later, I look over to ensure that she has succeeded in getting her boot on, only to see her sitting again with one boot on and one boot off.  This time, I see the boot laying in the puddle.  I tell her again to put her boot back on and let her know that if it lands in the puddle again she would spend some time “sitting out” of the party.  She jumps down, grabs her boot and once again runs to the back of the jungle gym to take a seat in the same spot as she was the last two times.

I get distracted again for a few seconds, and when I look again I am shocked to see that she has for the third time managed to have her boot land in the puddle.  When I (now frustrated) tell her to get the boot on, she explains to me that someone else (who was on the platform with her) was the one that threw it in the water this time. She picks it up for the last time (ensuring that she gets as much water as possible in her boot during the process) and finally manages to get the boot back on her foot.

The remainder of the party, she complains about the wet socks and shoes.  Hmmm, maybe next time she will avoid the puddles.  But then again, probably not.