Recently I read a blog post shared by Outdoor Families Magazine about the 10 Things Moms of Boys Must Know. As an outdoorsy mom of both a boy and a girl, many of the "boyish" stereotypes on the list rang true for both of my children. So I took on the challenge of creating my own list for parents of outdoor families.
1. You must know that being grossed out by insects, worms, snakes and frogs is not allowed. You must react with the same awe that your children have when they introduce you to these new friends. It may take practice, but a great tip is to mirror the joy you see on their face on your own. It will become real with time, trust me.
2. You must know that your home's entryway will be a muddy mess. Or a snowy mess. Or a dusty, dirty mess. Bath towels used as rugs will be invaluable to you. You will often need to carry your children in your outstretched arms, dangling from their armpits, to the bathtub. That is the best place in the house to strip off the dirty clothes while containing most of the mess.
3. You must know that your outdoor children will be dirty. Playing outside is hard work. It really is. And it's a very important job that your children will take very seriously. Keeping up with the demand for mud-pies at their restaurant, and bulldozing the mulch on the miniature construction site takes a lot of concentration and effort.
4. You must know that your washing machine will become your new best friend. Everyone knows that children are washable, but don't ever forget that while children are precious, clothing is NOT. And clothing is 100% washable, too! Invest in an economy-sized jug of laundry detergent and let your children play!
5. You must know that it is normal for outdoor children to want to play ALL day EVERY day. Sometimes their energy can seem overwhelming, especially when everyone is cooped up in the house. We often feel that way on the winter days when the temperatures barely scratch the positive integers. Being cooped up inside with children who need to PLAY, and often demand to play with you can be exhausting. Take advantage of any safe weather you have and take them outside. Sometimes it may feel like it is more effort than it is worth, but the payoff will be immediately apparent. The indoor destruction will switch to somewhere where messes will be more manageable.
6. You must know that your outdoor children will push your buttons daily. The perfect solution for those moments when everyone is on edge and nerves are frayed is to spend some time outside. Children can feel the freedom that being in nature allows them, and that can sometimes be enough to calm a tense situation or refocus their energy (or your own) on something more positive and productive. Take a seat in a camp chair with a book and let your children focus their creativity on a sand sculpture or a bouquet of dandelions.
7. You must know that you will forever be telling your outdoor children to take the rocks out of their pants pockets. You will quickly realize that simply requesting their removal isn't enough. You will need to check every pocket of every pair of pants, every hoodie, and every jacket every time you put them in the wash. Then you will add them to the ever-growing artifact collection. This is a good time to designate a small shelf or shoe box to the cause.
8. You must know that the word "quiet" needn't exist when playing outdoors. Sure, quiet has it's time and place, and sometimes it's nice to play a game of "listening ears" to hear the sounds of nature, but for those afternoons that the children are bouncing off walls you can simply take them outside to run, shout, and play off the extra energy.
9. You must know that outdoor children love to tinker! Give them things to tinker with. They will learn so much from taking things apart and putting them back together. They will discover how things work, and they will exercise their fine motor skills. Bring a few tools outside for them to play with: a magnifying glass, tweezers, a screwdriver, a hammer. Let them smash flowers and pick them apart and look at them up close. Let them tighten screws on the swing set, let them help when you build a mud kitchen or fix a window frame or put together a birdhouse.
10. You must know that outdoor children will take advantage of every opportunity to be outside. Once they get a taste of freedom in the great outdoors, your children will want to experience that daily. That is a wonderful thing! Let them out! Let them hone their sense of balance by spinning in the grass, by rolling down a hill, or by playing hopscotch. Let them take risks to learn more about their own limits and to build confidence. Let them strengthen their muscles and their gross motor skills by climbing trees and running relays. Let them explore new creative outlets such as growing flowers, painting the snow and weaving tall grasses into fence pickets.
Most importantly, enjoy this time with your children outside. Sit back and quietly observe how they interact with each other and with nature. Play with them. Remember what it felt like to be young, carefree, and wild, and experience that with them all over again.
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