Does a Chicken Count?

You're heard the comment a million times in a million different ways - "children grow up fast". My oldest will be 12 in the fall and starts middle school in September. It's true. Time does fly and we have to make it count. I've always loved adventures and with 11 summers behind us as a family rather than just a couple I took a few moments to reflect on some of the adventures we've had over the years. A few months ago I saw an article about childhood and outdoor challenges. Although my boys now enjoy more than their fair share of TV and video games we have still maintained a pretty healthy balance of outdoor time and free play - especially when they were younger. We didn't introduce video games until later in elementary school and limit TV viewing time during the school year (although the summer becomes a pretty lazy time). This checklist was published in England so some of the language threw me off a bit (What the heck is "conkers" or "abseiling"? Note to self: google those words.) but most of the checklist involved what I see as pretty simple childhood pleasures - like climbing a tree, rolling down a really big hill, camping, running around in the rain, etc. Out of 50 we have only missed 11 (and that includes 3 I didn't understand - umm... "conkers" once again). Some we have done numerous times. How many have you done and what's your plan to introduce your children to these experiences before they hit puberty and the chance for magic is gone? (Not that the teen years aren't a magical time - it's just a different kind of "magic" - hair, hysterics, and hormones.) I printed off the list, sit down with boys and began to go through the checklist asking them about their memories and experiences. I grew up in the mountains of West Virginia and visit at least once each summer. On a few occasions the boys have spent time alone there with their grandparents as well - so many of their responses were "Yes - in West Virginia" - such as eating an apple straight from the tree, getting behind a waterfall and tracking wild animals. Some of their memories involved our own backyard like throwing snow, damming a stream, and hunting for bugs. Others were enjoyed while on family vacation - like rafting, camping and burying someone in the sand. Still others happened while visiting MeeMee - such as feeding a bird from your hand - to which Blake asked "Does a chicken count?" Of course, a chicken counts! Our plans for next summer will include catching crabs (Number 39) - probably during our beach trip. Hopefully that day will end with a big pot of boiling water and spices as well! One we probably won't attempt: set up a snail race. One that will be hard for us: lighting a fire without a match. I really laughed when I read that one remembering the book of matches we went through while camping earlier this summer. We struggled to accomplish setting a camp fire WITH matches! Without? Seriously? The bottom line for me is this: in this fast paced, technology driven world I hope we have given our children a chance to experience life unplugged and I know they'll one day look back on these wonderful memories and hopefully even recreate them for their own little ones someday. Check out the list of outdoor challenges at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2128695/National-Trust-launches-bucket-list-campaign-50-things-children-sofas-wild.html.