Regardless of how you feel inside, always try to look like a winner.  Even if you are behind, a sustained look of control and confidence can give you a mental edge that results in victory. – Arthur Ashe on Tennis

I’ve had a long night.  The baby was cranky, causing me to get in and out of bed all night.  I woke up tired. 

The weather mirrored my attitude this morning.  It was gloomy and dull.  And my head hurt. 

In addition to my fatigue, my mind was muddled with unpleasant thoughts that were starting to wear me down.  I was not looking forward to having a good day. 

I love my children.  They are always cheerful and full of energy regardless.  Be it a sunny day or a gloomy one.  For them a new day is always filled with promises and adventures.

I looked into the mirror.  I was startled by its reflection. One’s hair was disheveled, her eyes lifeless and her skin colour tawny.  My only guess is that too much coffee is bad for the skin after downing 4 glasses the day before. 

I seriously needed to tap into the reservoir of my boys’ endless exuberance. 

Brian was, as usual, very noisy in my room.  I was too distracted to pay any attention at him.  I had too many problems in my head at the moment. 

Instead, my eyes fell upon the dark clouds heavy with rainwater at a distant.  My mood was as sombre as those black clouds. 

I heaved a sigh. 

Soon, it started to rain.  First softly, and then it got bigger and louder.  We had an awning erected on our front lawn to provide some shade from the scorching sun in the afternoons.  Now the rain beating on it had a rhythm going.
 
Tee ta tee ta tee ta tee… it went.

At first I took no notice of this, but because the beat was so consistent, the sound created music to my ears. 

“Let’s do the rain dance,” I told Brian. 

Although he didn’t know what to expect, he sportingly nodded his head. 

I stood facing him, and raised my hands in the air. 

“Now, let the rain fall,” I said, letting my arms fall while wriggling my fingers.  “Don’t forget to shake your head. Shake your bum as well.” 

I started a rain dance right in my room to the tempo of the falling rain.

Tee ta tee ta tee ta tee ta… it continued steadily on.  

The little boy quickly caught on.  He moved his arms up and down, shook his head left and right, and wriggled his fingers non stop.  

Soon, his whole body was in motion.  So was mine.

This rain dance was serious business.  

We performed the rain dance for ten minutes.  Then, the boy decided that he would change into a bird. 

Tweet tweet tweet tweet, he chirped while flapping his arms and running around the baby’s cot. 

And what was I?

I was a bald eagle.  Stretching my arms out fully on each side, I moved as if I was gliding in the air just like a powerful eagle. 

I glided behind the chirping bird while making the sound of the wind. 

Hmm… I liked being an eagle.  I think I’ll glide a few more rounds through the mountains.    

The baby cot suddenly had ridges, slopes and crevices.

I ran round and round the cot, and made more noises.  I must have looked so silly.

But not to the boy though.  On the contrary, he couldn’t be happier. 

He didn’t mind me gliding aimlessly round and round the mountains, I mean the cot.  He was being followed by an eagle.  He has found a playmate.

I love children!  They never say things like, “Don’t do that.  You look so ridiculous.”

A little pretend play did wonders for me.  It lifted my black mood that had blanketed me the whole morning. 

It was still raining when we went downstairs but what does it matter. The both of us were laughing and in high spirits despite of the bad weather.    

Try some pretend play today! Especially with your children.  You will be pleasantly surprised at the results. 

And here’s wishing you a great week ahead.

Cheers!