Hiking. Times a Lot of Littles.

Having our weekly nature walks has really helped to foster an already natural desire the kids and I have to be outside and to explore.

(Although I’m super appreciative of being able to prepare a post from my cell phone as we still have no internet connection, I really miss being able to link back to older posts for reference and having access to the photos saved on our computer.)

Anyway – this is a post about nature studies and hikes.

This summer manymany other moms and I have been gathering once each month for a joint giant hike with our manymany offspring.

It’s been marvelous.

Or at least I think so.

Don’t ask the other moms – they may not agree as whole heartedly.

For years (and I do mean years) I have been hoofing it around every summer to points hither and yon with my kiddos in tow or on my back. Conquering small trails and tiny vistas with just us.

And that’s not been bad.

But what a tremendously lovely blessing to take these adventures in fellowship with other families.

And what freedom I’ve felt this summer in our hikes.

Yes, I still seem to be carrying someone on my back most of the time. But I’m not toting diapers or sippy cups. I’m not forced to change a rotten poop pants in the woods and carry that bomb in my backpack for a mile. The kids can all carry their own water and snacks.

It’s liberating.

I’m always pretty nervous about organizing group activities. And there was certainly a time I avoided that type of responsibility like the plague. (That time was probably last year even. No joke.)

But I’ve developed a tiny bit thicker skin. I’ve realized that I am simply making a pitch to these fellow moms.

They are making the choice to join the hike or not.

I’m not actually responsible for whether they have a great time. (Although that last one’s a hard one to shake.).

Part of me is always tempted to run circles through the group, checking everyone’s mental pulse, brow beating them with questions: Feeling okay? Need some water? Glad you came? Still want to be my friend after this?

But really, so far, everyone does seem to be enjoying themselves.

The hikes have both been a bit of a challenge. But I think that’s been good too. I like being forced to push a little harder, to struggle through just a smidge longer.

I’m usually always reminded of how difficult it is to keep a positive outlook, to maintain a kind voice to my equally exhausted children, when I’m tired or hot with an extra forty pounds riding on my back.

And I generally find myself sitting in the conviction of how much I ask of my children in maintaining gentle attitudes while I find it just as challenging and I’m supposed to have the gift of maturity on my side.

So these hikes, you know, they turn out to be about so much more than walking in the woods. So much more than flora and fauna.

And I’ve been blessed that so many moms have decided to trek into all that weighty depth with me and my wayward children. And wayward me.