After the older kids got out of school Chanda and I announced that we were going to hit the trails. The kids suggested a park called Hudson Springs about 20 miles from our home with a pretty challenging but rather short running trail that also sported a kids play area made up of at least four playground sets, a rock wall, a giant slide and a dozen or so swings. Chanda and I agreed to take turns hanging with the kids while the other ran the trail. After each lap the person running would check in at the playground and if everyone was doing well they could do another lap.
As we drove to the trail you could feel the tension in the van already starting to dissipate. Everyone was looking forward to enjoying some time outside...Until we arrived. I could feel the tension in the van begin to rise as we surveyed the seen. I now know why they call it Hudson SPRINGS! It was practically underwater!
Here in Northeast Ohio we have had more rain in the last 30 days then they have had in Seattle and the whole park was a swamp. "Oh no!" cried my oldest as she looked out the windshield toward the playground, "How are we going to get over there?"
"What do you want to do?" Chanda asked. I thought about it for a minute. We were all there. Already muddy. There was no way to get back to the van without getting even messier.
"You can go first."
She just looked at me. Then without a word she strapped on her watch, grabbed her water bottle and headed into the woods. When she got back the kids were covered in mud from head to toe. They had it in their hair, on their faces and all over their clothes. The trails weren't quite as wet but looking at Chanda's shoes I knew that she had seen mud out there too. Chanda ran her laps and then I ran too and the while the kids got muddier and muddier. We were having a ball!
As we drove home, mud encrusted children dozing in their seats, Chanda sighed, "I think that was just what we needed."
It was. The circumstances that lead to our feeling so stressed are still there but we all walked away from that park with our heads clear. Being outside, playing, running, getting muddy...it was therapeutic. It allowed us to refocus on what was really important, to remember who we are and who is really in control. What we needed was a little mud therapy. And as we drove away I was reminded of a Bible passage at the end of Mathew 6, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all of these things will be given to you as well. And do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it's own."
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Wow i used mud therpy in my inclusive education school & found it one of the best healing, creative, & wonderful activity for kids with disabilities & normal children.
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