Pooh Sticks

My two-year-old, Linus, had his face pressed against the sliding glass door. He was miserable. He was an outdoor sort of boy, and whenever I kept him inside he reacted as if he had been put into prison. I always tried to let him have outdoor time every day, but it was 38 degrees outside – so cold! And the snow had been melting for days – everything was so muddy! I hated the thought of letting him go out, and get wet and muddy.

After 12-year-old Lucy and I finished working on her math lesson, I got up and went to the kitchen to make lunch. Linus was still at the glass door, sighing and banging on the glass. I got everyone fed and got the kitchen cleaned up. Sally, 15-years-old, was ready to work on her Latin. Lucy had some reading to do. This was when I normally made sure Linus got some fresh air, and I just didn’t want to do it.

I picked Linus up and took him to get a fresh diaper. “Me want go out!” he said emphatically.

“I know, honey, I know…” I replied as I pulled his pants back on. I looked in the corner at the bright yellow rubber boots we had bought for him, and at the old, hand-me-down blue jeans he was wearing. I knew the real reason I wasn’t taking him out was that I was being lazy, wanting to avoid cleaning up after a muddy boy. If I stood firm in my position, it would ultimately result in bad behavior from a boy who just needed to burn off some energy.

I leaned over and picked up the boots. “Come on, Linus! Let’s get dressed to go outside!” I said with enthusiasm I did not feel. I pulled his little boots onto his feet, tucking in the jeans, and I helped him into his little winter coat and hat. I donned my own raincoat and boots and told the girls to continue with their assignments while Linus and I took a walk.

We headed down the street, holding hands, and then onto the sidewalk leading to the path. We took a left onto the path, and I let go of Linus’s hand and let him run. He ran all the way to the bridge over the creek, then ran back to where I was as I followed him more slowly. He ran back to the bridge again, and leaned carefully over the rail, playing “Pooh sticks” as he waited for me.

We crossed the creek and headed for the next bridge. On the way Linus found a lovely puddle that was not to be neglected. As I got closer, I had to smile at the absolute joy that shone from his face as he jumped and jumped in the puddle, splashing and getting himself totally wet. He knew my rules, though, and did not get me wet as well.

As we finished our walk and headed home, Linus picked up rock specimens, asking me to examine each one. At one point we stopped simultaneously to watch when a northern cardinal flew to the bridge rail and perched there, as if he knew we were his audience. Linus also pointed to some robins that were hunting worms off in the soggy grass field. I told Linus that robins are a sure sign of spring!

We got home, and I saw that though wet, Linus was not muddy. The boots were left on the mat by the door, and I took Linus to dry off and get a dry outfit, then plopped into the rocking chair with Linus on my lap. I decided it was a good time to pull out The House at Pooh Corner and reread the section where Pooh and Piglet play Pooh sticks. I smiled as I finished the story, but Linus wasn’t listening any more –he had decided it was a good time to take a nap on Mom’s lap!

Diana Malament home schooled her three children from 1991 to 2018. She is now a contributing author to The Old Schoolhouse Magazine and hopes to use her words to encourage others who are still home schooling their children.