As World Forum, Exchange, teacher, grandmother, person I wanted to participate in Mud Day, too. It seemed too important, and too much fun, for us to be left behind just because we don’t have a school. So we announced that we would celebrate Mud Day in our backyard.

We invented our celebration as we went:
•We invited everyone we knew to come and play in the mud with us.
•Roger dug out a space of lawn about five feet square.
•We dumped three bags of potting soil on top.
•We collected old sand toys and kitchen and garden equipment.
•We moved the garden hose close by.
•We filled a tub with water and positioned it close to the dirt pile.

And we waited. People arrived. More people than we thought. It was chaotic and messy and exhausting. Everyone who wanted to got wet and muddy. Absolutely everybody had fun.

We learned some things:
•When you invite people to play in the mud, some are confused.
•It doesn’t matter if the sun isn’t shining.
•Adults need to get into the action–some can’t wait.
•Everyone has their own pace and sensitivities about mud, water, mucking about, getting dirty. And it’s fascinating to be part of accepting and enjoying all the differences.

Two things we know:
•We will be looking forward to World Forum International Mud Day, June 29, 2012.
•We’ll be enjoying mud and water and mess until then.