Setting the Pace

Tanner is the best dad ever and takes Gwen and Lily on "adventures" in the forests around our neighbourhood. Usually they are out walking and exploring for couple of hours, which gives me time at the end of the day to rest, or even to just clean without kids around. I once heard the expression "Cleaning your house with a toddler is like brushing your teeth while eating Oreos." While this may not be true all the time, it is certainly the case at the end of the day when I'm tired and cannot keep a balance between both cleaning and keeping the girls happily occupied in a contained space. So, having Tanner take the girls out for a couple of hours at the end of the day is a real treat. For everyone.

Gwen and Lily come home and tell me of their adventures. They are always sweaty, dirty, and wide-eyed with excitement.  So, I'll admit it, I get a little jealous, like I've missed out on something big.

Late at night, after the girls are washed up and tucked into bed, Tanner tells me more of their outings. He has told me that those walks through the forest will be memories that he will never forget. His favourite thing about them is that the girls are the leaders and there is no set pace. They run, wander, stop to look at things and NEVER rush. Plus, being in the forest you don't feel as if you are in the city. While house searching in Halifax, Tanner is very particular that there be lots of trees and possibly a forested area near by. I guess there will be many more expeditions to come!

So for me, I am learning from Tanner to slow down and let the girls set the pace; to stop, explore, and to not rush the adventure. Why are we always in such a hurry, anyway?