Once we started having the conversation about having kids, it was really important that we embraced being outside. We weren’t going to stop that part of our lives just because we had kids. And it was, too, a conscious choice: What we know, and what we just experience in our own lives, it’s hugely beneficial to spend time in nature—so that was part of it, too. Nature does help bring this out, too. When you are at a playground, and they have it set up like a castle or boat, sometimes it’s hard to imagine outside of that boat. You can still do imagination play, but you’re always going to be on a boat. But when you are out in nature, it is endless to what you can imagine. A post shared by Rebecca Caldwell (@beccajcaldwell) on Oct 21, 2018 at 5:47pm PDT But for us, it is just going to be what we are going to do. So we just do it, and you get used to it as a parent. You get your systems dialed, you understand what clothes are appropriate for what temperatures, what sort of things you need to pack, and that all makes it easier. On the days they aren’t as excited, sometimes you just have to be like, “OK this is what we’re doing, we’re going outside.” It’s less romantic, but I just think it’s so good for them to be out there regardless if they are in the mood for it at the moment or not. And then, from there, it’s usually just getting over the hump. And during those times that they’ve pushed through, they’re really glad they did. Like, for example, getting outside to go for a run is hard. But then after, you’re usually happy you did it. The same goes for kids too. And the other parents I talk to, who now have older kids, say that just the best thing you can do is make them get outdoors—even if they don’t want to. Of course there are times you need to call it quits. And every parent knows their kid pretty well: You know the point that you should nudge them and the times you shouldn’t. For example, where we live [in Estes Park, Colorado], we can get howling winds, and in those times it just doesn’t become as fun anymore; it starts outweighing the benefits of being outdoors. Or if we’re hiking, sometimes they start getting tired, which is totally understandable! (Kids are allowed to be tired or just be over it.) Or, more likely, when we run out of snacks. So you just need to pay attention and listen to them. You, as a parent, will know when you’ve reached a tipping point. A post shared by Rebecca Caldwell (@beccajcaldwell) on Nov 14, 2018 at 5:48pm PST A post shared by Rebecca Caldwell (@beccajcaldwell) on May 30, 2018 at 1:25pm PDT
