Suburban Nature

For the past three years I have taken my boys on explorations of nearby urban nature within the city limit. I have thought that since I am committed to making our urban areas healthy and livable I might as well not venture to the nearby suburban nature. However, it is always good to get out of your own zone and see how other communities do things. Six miles away I found this pristine beach with my boys. We found exactly two pieces of litter, the rest of the area was beach and rocks shells, and sticks. How does this suburb do it? How can we make Seattle beaches as pristine? This was the first time I did not have to hover over my kids and make sure that they didn't touch glass or garbage as they picked up stones to toss. We had a beautiful time! The boys threw things into the water- learning about which things float (sticks) and which sink (rocks). They watches ducks. They climbed on logs. They explored freely.Soaking nature into their bodies. Returning to the city refreshed.

Hiking in late winter

The buds are just about to open and on occasion we found a few early leaves- mostly on the Indian plum trees which are starting to pop bright green into the world. We saw raccoons balled up in the branches of the trees. T and S showed that even when it's cold and bit wet the woods invite adventure. Here they are balancing on the roots of a tree.

All you need is a mud pit and some tools

Urban Campfire in February

Beautiful days in February call to be noticed. It was a blessing that our neighbors thought a good way to keep out of doors even while the sun set was to make a fire. The kids roasted hot dogs. The adults sipped warm drinks. We all sang songs and played on the neighbors' makeshift teeter totter ( a board resting over a log), also a makeshift bench.

Invitation to Play

Snow is amazing in that it invites exploration. The first day it snowed T just marched in circles stomping his feet and smiling while the neighbor boy did basically the same, occasionally picking some snow up and throwing it, brushing a tree, shouting out with glee. Sledding downhill got even the slightly timid of snow S to smile hugely. My boys and the neighbor played and played. Then we worked on building snowmen. At almost age 3, Frosty the Snowman has been an important seasonal song and story in our house. The boys were thrilled to build snowmen even though they did notice and comment later that they didn't come alive and play.

A neighbor who was walking by saw my children sledding with their dad and I and said that these will be great memories. I said I wasn't sure if my children will remember the snow. She said, surely they will remember the joy and each time it snows they will be happy. I thought that was a beautiful statement.

It made me appreciate my own comfort and love of snow. It makes it easy to present snow as something wonderful for my own children. However, this reflection also made me wonder how could I inspire some of our friends who may not be so comfortable in snow to get outside with their kids. Today, I followed through on this challenge and knocked on a neighbors' door with an invitation to play. Their child is scared of the snow they said. I think we often fear those things that we have not experienced. In this case both the parents and the child are new to snow. I will knock again, bearing extra warm clothes.

Snow Days!

2012 Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend Snow was a natural few days for play, joy and community. Since snow in Seattle disappears quickly our family took advantage of every moment and the boys had a great time.

Then today the snow was back. It is amazing how many more neighbors you see and are able to stop and talk to when people are not in cars. It makes me wonder how can we continue to make our neighborhoods more car free?

How can we foster community the way snow brings people together?

Stop and smell the roses: oh, and don't forget to stop and see the pictures

Yesterday we got off the light rail and had made it almost across the busy street surrounding the light rail train when I heard a disgruntled T. T said " the picture! " we had forgotten to look at the picture of the train and art as we got off. So we went back and this time T noticed that it was just part of the train.

I noticed the great description of why the art is there: It says: "Through exploration we create our worlds. Through community we hold them together." It fit perfectly into my thoughts for a parent discussion that night in how to raise an anti- bias child.

Thank you T for reminding me to slow down.