Through a Child’s Eyes
Before we had kids Noel and I went on a lot of adventures and I was frequently saying things like, “This is fun, but don’t you think the zoo/hike/beach/airplane/whatever will seem so much more exciting when we have kids?” Then Noel would say, “Yeah . . . ” trying to hide the fact that he thought I was crazy. Now that we have kids we do a fair amount of whining about how hard it is to go on adventures with kids. You have to bring all the gear, pack snacks, work around nap time and bedtime, deal with tantrums, endure snotty looks from childless people, and generally do less than you wanted to. It can be aggravating and tempting to just stay home and do nothing. But when I see how amazed Cooper is to have a ladybug crawling across his fingers or how fascinating it is to stare out of the windows at our airport terminal those words from my pre-kid days come back to me. It kind of makes me want to yell, “Hey, did you notice that something super cool is happening over here? Something we all just overlooked because now we’re boring adults!” to everyone else who’s staring at their phones or trying to get to the top of the mountain the fastest. These days with kids are more exciting (for better or worse) and even though I do miss some of the crazy adventures we used to take, I’m grateful that my kids can help me see the simplest things through a fresh perspective.
3 thoughts on “Through a Child’s Eyes”
Oh I hear ya. There is a state park with a 60 foot waterfall not too far away from where we live. The entrance fee is only $5 per adult. Brandon and I would take the kids there in a heartbeat if it wasn’t for the 3 mile round trip hike on a rugged trail to the falls. Instead we are looking for something more in the neighborhood of a 100 yard walk. But you are right they will learn so much with just that.
I figure if we expose them to nature and the outdoors even a little bit at this age then it should be easier when they are older. As hard as taking toddlers camping is, it’s got to be easier than taking 7 year olds camping for the very first time.
The excitement of discovery is so much more pleasing than a place, or a challenge. When you or your little one is caught in one of those bewildering expressions of delight or wonder, remember this moment only happens once and you caught it, and were lucky enough to experience it.
Amen. I hardly remember life without kids and what it was like to go anywhere without all the gear, and even when we are out without our kids we always end up talking about them. Love the pic of Ellen’s first bubble bath. Tayven was literally terrified by bubble baths til he was 2, so I hadn’t even thought to try it with Austin. Also, i forgot how much I loved your bedspread!