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The rain stopped for a few minutes, but the mud was there to stay

I am not a native Seattleite. So the best piece of advice I got just before I accepted my job and moved here was from a native: "You have to do whatever you are planning to do regardless of the weather," my friend John told me.

I've taken that advice to heart. I've been to outdoor concerts in the rain, a street fair, and run a marathon. And like the natives, I never carry an umbrella. (I do like hoods on my jackets, though.)

And now, as a parent, I'm imparting that philosophy to my kids. So when the weather called for rain all day on Sunday, when The Boy's Cub Scout pack was making a trip to Washington State's largest corn maze, I said we were going - rain or shine.

Too bad I didn't have a rule about mud!

I guess I thought the maze - 12 acres in size - would have hay or something for us to walk on. Nope. Instead, it was pure mud. And not just any mud: mud that felt like glue on our feet.

I very much believe in letting my kids make choices within a controlled environment. For example, they're allowed to choose their clothing, so long as they are climate-appropriate and situation-appropriate. So when The Girl wanted to wear a skirt, I said sure - as long as she also wears winter tights. I was thinking more about rain and cold, though - not mud. So her light-pink outfit and The Boy's khaki pants weren't great choices in retrospect.

When we arrived, the rain was slowing, and had actually stopped by the time we got off the hay ride and entered the maze. The Girl could barely walk - the gluey mud stuck to her feet so strongly that I had to hold both of her hands to help her walk. And The Boy kept wanting to run - resulting in fabulous slides that soaked his bottom in mud.

YUCK!

And I'm really a clean freak. I hate dirt and mud - especially on me and my clothing. But we were there, and I wasn't going to let the weather get us down. So I smiled when my jeans got muddy, and laughed at my shoes. I thought about how I'd get my car cleaned up after we got back in it covered with mud, and I told myself to chill and just let it happen. Cars and clothing and bodies come clean fairly easily.

But we did go through the maze just one time, and chose the most direct route possible. We did stop and let the kids read the signs and play on the bridges and other landmarks within the maze. It was actually quite cool: it's cut in the shape of Washington state, and your job is to get from the eastern side to the west. Along the way, you can visit a ton of cities and landmarks, so it's very educational. And there are no dead-ends, so you can't get lost (plus they give you a map).

We stripped off our muddy stuff as soon as we got into our garage, and it all went right into my laundry sink. As the mud rinsed off the clothes, I felt pretty darn proud of myself. The kids had a great time, and we didn't let the weather stop us. That's how it's got to be here in rainy land!