One hot summer day, I was 14 and got the idea of going to the swimming pool with a friend. My mother, who would have normally go with me – actually I would go with them – insisted that storm was forecasted and it would be dangerous, nobody was going to the public pool that day. But there I went, with this friend of mine who was more independent than me and who I admired so much. The black clouds caught us in the water, and the drops from the sky started to fall in our already wet hair. Running for shelter I remember how I had dismissed my mother’s advice and how happy I was I did, laughing and running as hard as I could. We passed the rest of the afternoon in the open cafe up the hill with the waiter and some other adventurous couple of boys. I felt so big, so grown up.

Today it started to rain as I was working in my shared office in Tokyo. I looked out over this swimming pool and the smell of chlorine mixed with the scent of rain brought back that 30 year old moment. I felt happy and proud of not having listened to mum. Then and now. Sorry mum, I love you but you are often wrong about what’s best for your kids.