Wow, this reminded me that I was the same way as a kid. I wanted to be outdoors and take care of animals when I grew up but my mom barely even let me in the backyard 🥲 And when we did go to nature reserves it always felt rushed and like I didn't have time to take anything in. I grew up in and live in Florida, which is unfortunate in multiple ways, but one of them was that I've always preferred mountains to beaches. I have bad anxiety about going to new places and travelling, so I forget I have the option to just go to a reserve. Thanks for reawakening that dream inside me--I'm gonna think about it more. :)
Florida has its own beautiful ecosystems, but I do love being close to mountains. And I share some of that traveling anxiety. It isn't always easy to say yes, and sometimes my body suffers a bit, but I am forever reminded that I have just this one mortal experience. I want to see and do as much as I can. Maybe that means going, maybe it means reading about someone else's journey.
This is why I love to read. I shall live vicariously through you and your kids' adventures and forgo the big bug bites and ripped nails (mosquitos and mozzies love me). I had empathetic itching just reading this, so your writing is very effective!
It's beautiful to hear how your eldest is bringing you back to yourself—soul-enriching plus awe-inspiring scenery! xo
This is so wonderful, and I'm so happy for you that you got to realize a life-long dream! Your beautiful descriptions invoked for me memories of the first 9 years of my life, when I lived in the mountains, and frequently went on week-long hiking trips into the Jemez Mountains. Those trips were a strange mashup of both the stress and fear of the way my family did hiking, and the exhilaration and joy of that wilderness. Your writing allowed me to connect with that sense of wonder without having to also invoke the family dynamics, so you have given me a great gift. Thank you! What I remember best is the tiny but numerous wild strawberries, and the also tiny but numerous colonies of yellow, orange, and red ladybugs.
You're always welcome to trek with us in spirit, enjoying the parts that are the most lovely and touching for you. I've learned that there are many ways to travel, and sometimes the words of others provides a new path for those journeys.
What a great experience. Wonderful memories made, a “new thing” shared between the two of you. It was fun to experience it vicariously while reading your words. That mention early on about doing things with each of your kids individually - so true and so important? I did some of that, but I wish I had done more. Now it happens that way since they are young adults and not in the same city, so the treat is to get them together. But when they were young it was more difficult to make those opportunities. The few we did manage were memorable and fun for sure. Thank for sharing this beautiful slice of life.
I’m betting they will. I took mine on many adventures (though we never backpacked, but went on camping trips, hiking in Vermont, to Europe, on train trips). Mine are adults and they now take me on adventures even though I now have to use hiking poles for some of them.
Your vivid descriptions and photos take me back to hikes with my boy (who is now a man). He loved the outdoors, and was a natural at all the survival things.
When he was a teenager we did several 5ish day long backpacking hikes together, and eventually I even did a solo backpacking trip. I doubt I would’ve done any of it without him and his interests pulling me to try.
I hope that this is only the beginning of a long beautiful journey with your little adventurer! 💚 🏔️ 🌲
How cool that you and your son could share an adventure like this together. It's hard to beat nature, even with all of the distractions that exist today. I love nature even if it's my own backyard.
I wish nature were the biggest distraction. My kids seem quite happy with a balance of screen time and tree time. They will often play outside for hours without even thinking about electronics.
Robin, you are a gifted writer. Thank you for sharing this story. I also feel like my children teach me so much more than I teach them. It’s beautiful.
This is gorgeous. So agree about the individual time. When they get to be adults it can really difficult to schedule that in, but it stays just as important. And yes -- we are taught by much more than we teach our children (of all ages). x
Wonderful! Beautiful! And I agree - my kids have taught me way more than I ever taught them!
Wow, this reminded me that I was the same way as a kid. I wanted to be outdoors and take care of animals when I grew up but my mom barely even let me in the backyard 🥲 And when we did go to nature reserves it always felt rushed and like I didn't have time to take anything in. I grew up in and live in Florida, which is unfortunate in multiple ways, but one of them was that I've always preferred mountains to beaches. I have bad anxiety about going to new places and travelling, so I forget I have the option to just go to a reserve. Thanks for reawakening that dream inside me--I'm gonna think about it more. :)
Florida has its own beautiful ecosystems, but I do love being close to mountains. And I share some of that traveling anxiety. It isn't always easy to say yes, and sometimes my body suffers a bit, but I am forever reminded that I have just this one mortal experience. I want to see and do as much as I can. Maybe that means going, maybe it means reading about someone else's journey.
Oh Robin! How fabulous that you had the opportunity to do this with your son. Such a beautiful story and memory you both have.
I hope you get to go again Soon!!
Ps… dryer sheets… (the perfumed stinky ones) stick one half way into your pocket, and it’ll keep most of the skeeters away.
Oh! I have to try this now!!
This is why I love to read. I shall live vicariously through you and your kids' adventures and forgo the big bug bites and ripped nails (mosquitos and mozzies love me). I had empathetic itching just reading this, so your writing is very effective!
It's beautiful to hear how your eldest is bringing you back to yourself—soul-enriching plus awe-inspiring scenery! xo
I wish I didn't itch so much! But some prices are worth paying.
This is so wonderful, and I'm so happy for you that you got to realize a life-long dream! Your beautiful descriptions invoked for me memories of the first 9 years of my life, when I lived in the mountains, and frequently went on week-long hiking trips into the Jemez Mountains. Those trips were a strange mashup of both the stress and fear of the way my family did hiking, and the exhilaration and joy of that wilderness. Your writing allowed me to connect with that sense of wonder without having to also invoke the family dynamics, so you have given me a great gift. Thank you! What I remember best is the tiny but numerous wild strawberries, and the also tiny but numerous colonies of yellow, orange, and red ladybugs.
You're always welcome to trek with us in spirit, enjoying the parts that are the most lovely and touching for you. I've learned that there are many ways to travel, and sometimes the words of others provides a new path for those journeys.
What a great experience. Wonderful memories made, a “new thing” shared between the two of you. It was fun to experience it vicariously while reading your words. That mention early on about doing things with each of your kids individually - so true and so important? I did some of that, but I wish I had done more. Now it happens that way since they are young adults and not in the same city, so the treat is to get them together. But when they were young it was more difficult to make those opportunities. The few we did manage were memorable and fun for sure. Thank for sharing this beautiful slice of life.
It's hard to imagine my kids as adults but I know it's just around the corner. Maybe they will take me on adventures someday.
I’m betting they will. I took mine on many adventures (though we never backpacked, but went on camping trips, hiking in Vermont, to Europe, on train trips). Mine are adults and they now take me on adventures even though I now have to use hiking poles for some of them.
Thank you for this, Robin. A gift for all of us. 🤍
Beautiful story! Thank you for sharing.
Your vivid descriptions and photos take me back to hikes with my boy (who is now a man). He loved the outdoors, and was a natural at all the survival things.
When he was a teenager we did several 5ish day long backpacking hikes together, and eventually I even did a solo backpacking trip. I doubt I would’ve done any of it without him and his interests pulling me to try.
I hope that this is only the beginning of a long beautiful journey with your little adventurer! 💚 🏔️ 🌲
Oh gosh, 5 days sounds like a lot! But that's such an incredible experience to share.
Just wonderful! I felt your joy!
Oh this sounds like an amazing and beautiful adventure!! I loved reading this. Thank you for sharing!
I love this 💕 what beautiful memories you’ve created together. Thank you for sharing 💕
How cool that you and your son could share an adventure like this together. It's hard to beat nature, even with all of the distractions that exist today. I love nature even if it's my own backyard.
I wish nature were the biggest distraction. My kids seem quite happy with a balance of screen time and tree time. They will often play outside for hours without even thinking about electronics.
That's a good thing Robin. So many children today don't seem to even want to spend time outside.
Robin, you are a gifted writer. Thank you for sharing this story. I also feel like my children teach me so much more than I teach them. It’s beautiful.
Tiffany, thank you! Maybe someday our children will find our writing and understand how much these little moments meant to us.
This is gorgeous. So agree about the individual time. When they get to be adults it can really difficult to schedule that in, but it stays just as important. And yes -- we are taught by much more than we teach our children (of all ages). x
Our lives are so full of these special moments. I only hope I can capture a handful of them before my kids are grown and off on their own adventures.
Beautiful ❤️❤️❤️