I love rain! I love how it waters the plants; I love how it provides cool breeze. I love watching every rain fall from the sky. As weird as I may sound, I also love watching the rain march together to the drainage. Raindrops bring music to my ears. I promised myself I’ll create a rain-watching spot in my future home. Rain makes me sentimentally-at-peace. I love to dance and wade in the rain as a kid. I hate flood though, I do not like soaking my feet on it, and worst that it can take away lives. But that doesn’t make me love rain less; flood is not the fault of the rain, not even by typhoons or storms. It’s the end result of people’s neglect to the environment. But that’s another story.
Ironically, Uno was my opposite. She fears the rain. She cries every time she hears the rain drops. She hides under the cover or embrace us so tight. I know there is something wrong. It’s anxiety, anew. My only relief was that at least it’s not a phobia. I can say because we could still pacify her, she responds to our soothing well and pretty fast. I just need to find out how we could help her pass this stage fast.
After few weeks of trial and error (it took a little longer because the rain schedule conflicts with my presence, it usually rains when I’m in the office). We succeeded in helping her passed by this anxiety stage. Here’s what we did:
1) Reject the fear. We told her to sing "Rain, Rain Go Away" every time it rains. It will keep her busy and positive at the same time.
2) Accept the occurrence. We constantly convinced her that rain is our friend. And told her how rain made the plants and frogs happy. That she can still be happy and do something even though it’s raining. Our theme song at this stage was “I’m Singing in the Rain”.hehe We also gave her umbrella and told her how it can protect her against the rain. We go out of the house just to prove that.
3) Destruct her attention. We set the TV volume higher, we let her play her tablet, we put earphone on her ears, we read her favorite storybooks especially when the rain comes with thunder.
4) Assure her safety. We call her every time were told that it’s raining in our place. When were together, we stay with her until she’s pacified. We keep on telling her that it’s going to be fine and we’re here for her.
5) Use her language. Use words which she can relate with. Like, “Baby, the thunder you hear is just dinosaurs in heaven gargling, and when they spit the water it becomes the rain, just like you when you brush your teeth”.
She’s a rain anxious graduate now. I am looking forward to the time where we could dance in the rain together.
