Browsing Tag

teaching kids to love the outdoors

Daily Life

Lowering My Expectations

I may not do everything perfectly, but when I see my kid barefoot in the grass making clover chains (with some help, of course), I know I’m doing something right. It’s funny because the girls and I are all our best selves when we’re outside, and especially if we’re outside being active. Sometimes I get frustrated with K when she gets bored and restless and starts acting out. I have to remind myself that I don’t like sitting inside for hours either! The world is ours to explore. It’s why we pay the big bucks to live in a teeny tiny apartment in Southern California.

Sometimes I get frustrated with K when she gets bored and restless and starts acting out. I have to remind myself that I don’t like sitting inside for hours either!

We may not have seasons (which I do miss sometimes – especially when it’s in the 90s around Halloween…), but I love being near the beach, the mountains, the redwoods…. We can see snow, hike through a canyon in the desert, and take a stroll down Rodeo Drive all in a day. I try to instill in my kids that life is for living outdoors. Yes, we watch some tv, but we also try to go somewhere every day that we can.

There are trees to climb and hills to roll down and of course, boo boos to bandage later because my girls both have skinned knees constantly.

It doesn’t have to be expensive. Kids this age are so easily entertained with the world around them. Bringing binoculars or a magnifying glass outside can keep them occupied for hours. There are trees to climb and hills to roll down and of course, boo boos to bandage later because my girls both have skinned knees constantly. But I think they’re happy. And most of the time, I’m happy too. So today instead of worrying around my messy apartment and the closet I still need to clean out and my never ending to-do list, I’m going to choose to be at peace. I’m definitely doing something right.