When our kids were babies and toddlers we went hiking several times a week from Spring through Fall and a couple of times in the Winter. We drove far and wide to all kinds of exciting places and adventures. We had a few regular trails that we got to know really well.
Sometime after our big move we just stopped going. It had become such a fight. We had so many things going on. It was just too much. But we did find a trail or two we liked that are nearby.
Now, our kids are getting into those ages where they’re going to start doing more on their own. We’ll have less and less time together as a family. My husband and I want to make sure we’re still creating memories with them before they’re gone. We can see how fast it goes.
My husband and I are also getting older. We are at that stage where we need to be active and focus on our health. We have been hiking together since we met. I’m sure we’ll keep going long after the kids have moved out. These trips keep us spry.
I love watching them help each other tackle these obstacles. They definitely bicker, but they also give support, a hand, or show each other how it’s done. Our middle one gets rather grumpy. She’s not a fan of our treks. Yet everyone is in a better mood when we get home.
Mostly we love the quiet. No internet. No phones. No hum of electricity buzzing through the air. A person can really feel peace in the woods, amongst the trees and the breeze. A nice light meal at a picnic table covered with some blankets and then a medium paced hike through Nature. What a wonderful way to pass a Sunday afternoon.
The Accidental Domestic Goddess 