I take our role as “walkers” to the school seriously. We walk in the rain, we walk in the cold; you better believe we walk in the snow. So when the neighbors we usually walk with called one morning to say they were driving their kids to school because of the weather, my kids thought it was the perfect time to beg for a ride. Ha!

“We ‘re not made of sugar! Rain is not going to hurt us.” Seriously, when did I start talking like this? “Besides, you guys don’t even like to use your umbrellas — you think it’ s fun to get your hair wet.”

So we set off on our journey. After a block or so, I realized it wasn’t just raining. It was raining sideways. A little over half-way there, Tommy’s new umbrella turned inside out, snapping one of the spokes. We finally arrived at school, wind-blown, freezing and soaking wet. And I still had to walk home.

Yes, I got some exercise and saved some money on gas, but sometimes warm and dry is priceless.