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one-on-one
May 20, 2019

As I mentioned a few posts back, a few years ago Andy and I decided to prioritize one-on-one, multi-day adventures with our kids and each other. It’s simple in concept but harder than I thought it’d be to execute. It takes planning and intention. It takes recognizing an open window and flying on out even when there’s a million reasons to stay put (psa: there’ll always be a million reasons.)

When I grow up I want to love animals like Jane Goodall, be an author and a part-time photographer.

Getting away (without cell service a major bonus) opens up time to just Be. Together. Talking on the drive, planning the day, problem-solving, sharing the chores. We’ve found taking a full few days with one daughter opens up listening and communicating in a heartlove, foundational way.

Mama, has Margot always been more independent than me? Was she ever nervous to do things without you? I just always want to be with you.

This weekend Andy and Margot adventured in Seattle for a jump rope comp / to see family. Ruby and I went camping. I am pretty good at walking out the door of a messy home in favor of adventuring but I still had to dig deep to make this one happen. A full load of clean dishes in the dishwasher with a full load of dirties on the counter, a garden that needs attention, chicken coop that needs mending, so many half-baked projects languishing and I always have work to do (one of the pitfalls of working from home…it’s always just right there.)

But I know this to be true: getting out into nature with my kids never, ever disappoints. Ever. Always a huge payoff. So when Ruby told me she really wanted to go camping with me (even though it was raining and a predicted low of 36ºF) I looked into those oceanic eyes and said yes before I could even think about why not.

Do you ever think about if you were a fish or a bird or a dog? I feel most like a llama. Or a penguin.

blurry, yes. full of love, yes.
The benefit to having our car camp kit at the ready is that getting on the road is super easy. And, while I love to spend a lot of time cooking elaborate camp dinners, I also like to sometimes keep the food super easy. This trip: homemade bread, cheese, almonds, popcorn, avocados, apples and these premade lentil packets that my kids love.
We’ve never worked so hard for a fire in our lives. Everything was SO wet. But we did it!
She’s writing a novel. Page 29 is written in burned stick.

I love camping so much. Tomorrow can I have tea while you do two french braids in my hair?

We did her favorite things: dog cuddling, writing, reading, hammocking, biking, dreaming of what-ifs, popcorn eating, fire building and laying in our sleeping bags as long as we felt like it in the morning. It was tops.

Click to see a few favorite camp tools.

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adventure  / mother

3 Comments


Terri Holt
May 21, 2019 at 7:42 AM

What a perfect time!

xoxo



Sylvia Rostron
May 21, 2019 at 1:21 PM

Love what you are doing. Perfect!



Eliza B.
May 21, 2019 at 9:07 PM

This is such an amazing and inspiring thing that you guys are doing. I dream of this exact thing with my boys when they are a little older. What a special time for all of you to share with each other. I am so impressed with and thankful for this. Much love. 💕



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    I’m Nici (pronounced like Nikki) and I live in western Montana where I raise kids, vegetables and the roof.

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