Yesterday was the kind of day that makes people who aren't from here mock Seattle. I didn't walk a half block before my socks were soggy and my boots felt like they would slough off my feet. It would have been rough enough on my wardrobe and psyche, but to make matters worse, I had my 19-month-old daughter in tow. And we were riding the bus. And we were going to the doctor to get her shots. If you have dealt with any of these potential pains in the derriere, you know what sort of cursing I was doing in my head.

My daughter, whose nickname of "Gub" comes out of my mouth as easily as her given name, was taking things mostly in stride. She insisted on walking in the pre-torrent drizzle, but she obediently avoided puddles and allowed me to carry her across streets. While waiting for the doc, she learned how to spin and say "Wheeeee!," which kept her happy until the stethoscope came out. Then Gub got crabby. The shots were bad, but not as bad as putting her pants back on. She hated them so much that as soon as we went back outside, she reclined on the sidewalk and got them wet.

Glad for a break, I dropped her off to play with a friend for an hour, while I went out for lunch at Cafe Presse to catch up on some paperwork and reading. Within fifteen minutes of being in there, I missed Gub again. At two tables across the room, families were enjoying their omlettes and brioche, and peals of laughter issued from a very happy little boy.

Along with its soggy reputation, I hear that Seattle isn't the most kid-friendly of cities. Statistically that may be so, but from my limited experience, I have to say I love having a family here, and the scene at Cafe Presse kind of summed it up: happy, relaxed, diverse families enjoying themselves in spite of the rain.

When I picked Gub up, the rain was showing off its stuff. We borrowed an umbrella, lined our backpack with plastic and went out to wait for our bus. On board, I was reminded of all the reasons I love riding the bus with Gub in this city. She was spoken to in a couple of different languages, flirted with a business man, and played peek-a-boo with an elderly fellow, all while I read my book and contemplated what to do the next time the rain comes pouring down.

As I wander this fine city in all weather, I will be looking for the best, most interesting, or simply the most practical ideas for families in Seattle. We live here and we love it, but there is always so much more to discover to keep ourselves and our ever-antsy wee (and bigger!) ones engaged.

I hope you will share your family's Seattle favorites with us so that we can all have a fresh list of activities when the days are short or oh-so-long. So tell me: What do you do with your family when the rain just won't quit?

When she isn't writing about kids and families, Lilium Pierson can be found adventuring in Seattle with her young daughter, "Gub." Their favorite activities include library visits, Sundays at the West Seattle farmers market and exploring their neighborhood. Pierson's work has appeared in Seattle Business Monthly.

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