Gasp. What?! Kid’s complaining about adventures?
Never.
When we look at other people’s lives, [and most likely when you look at ours] it appears that we are all just frolicking around on an “explorer’s high,” smiles on our faces, all the pieces coming together for perfect journeys, and an endless desire to do it all again.
And when we think this, we are wrong.
Last week was a doozy.
In the last few years, we’ve left the season of having really-young-and-needy-kids behind. [You know… when getting outdoors is logistically difficult. And getting out the door is the crux of the day.] Wow. Things are now so much easier! For all you parents toting diapers down the trail and breastfeeding on a summit, know that it really does get easier and better!
But like most of life, when one season’s hardship ends, another begins. Now we’ve moved on to a different type of difficult, emotionally difficult.
Summit Silly Pose on what turned out to be a magical hike after dinner!
Many days my kids just don’t want to go on a hike. They voice it loud and clear, and hold to their guns no matter what we say. Often times they want to come home after only 2 runs at the ski area just so they can “play with their friends in the neighborhood.” They get tired. They get emotional. And like everyone else, they take it out on us and each other.
Let’s just say yesterday, after a week of the emotional barrage every time I had skiing or biking or hiking on the agenda, I was fully ready to give up.
I grabbed a beer, sat in the backyard with Chris and hashed through it all. No doubt there were tears involved.
And then we decided to go on a hike. OK. Chris decided. I begrudgingly followed along, thinking, “well, at least he can deal with all the complaining this time!”
We hit a trailhead only 5 minutes from home. Of course, he chose the steepest one, a short hike to the ridge line.
In the car, he laid out the problem with the kids. He told them it was discouraging for us to hear their complaining all the time. He promised them they’d get time to play with friends during the week and the occasional weekend. But he made it clear our family outdoor time was not going to change, largely because mom and dad need it to thrive. And we truly believe they do too. It is just part of how we roll around here.
I waited for the backlash and it never came.
Not a good photo but I had to share! Look at his smile! Kai is always excited for an adventure.
We hit the steep trail. I waited for the complaining… but apart from the youngest saying her legs felt tired, it never came. I waited and hiked and waited.
And while I was tempted to think, “sure, of course now they are going to act like saints.” I also realized this was one of those moments… where it all comes together.
The kids literally skipped up the trail. We hit snow, we practiced kick stepping, we watched deer run by, we enjoyed our REALLY HAPPY DOG.
We hit the “summit” and the sunset hit an all time amazing high. We glissading the snow on the way down [much to the kid’s excitement]. And we ran together all the way to the car under the most brilliant orange and pink sky reflecting off the Great Salt Lake.
I still don’t know what to do about kids complaining on our family adventures…
But I know one thing not to do:
Don’t stop doing what you love. Make it happen. Roll with the punches. Press on friends.
Some very happy kids chasing a very happy dog down the trail.
Thanks for this, such a brilliant and much needed reminder to never give up trying!
Thanks! Have a great week!
Amazing timing to have this come across my feed. I was literally just talking with my husband about how the kids complain about hiking, or biking, or anything that I want them to love to do as much as we do.
I will take your advice and Keep on pushing through, with the hope that one day they will appreciate what being out in nature can do. And learn to also appreciate the times when it does all come together.
The encouraging this is as a child I complained and didn’t want to go and hates hiking and skiing. Funny looking back now!
My 4 year old has literally sat down on the snow, refusing to ski another inch several times this season. My 7 year old fought me about trying a new bike even though his other one is too small and I hauled it in the car 30 minutes to a flat easy trail. It’s sooo frustrating. But I agree, being outdoors is something I need and it won’t stop happening even when the kids complain about it. It’s good to hear I’m not the only one.
Thank you for this. I am not there yet, my little one is 9 months, but I have no doubt I will need this lesson sometime in her young life. Your little family is adorable and you must be raising them well if they learned that lesson so quickly!
Thanks so much!
At this time of the year, it feels like we are always sick and never get out. My two year old still doesn’t sleep, and I feel too tired to do much of anything. Just trying to survive with the things that have to get done. I know things will get easier eventually, but it’s hard to wait it out. We still hike, but not very often lately… Thanks for the encouragement, today.
Your welcome! I promise one day when you look back, the time will have flown by. I think the most difficult thing as a parent is not getting any sleep – it literally takes the life out of you. Best wishes!
This…….”But he made it clear our family outdoor time was not going to change, largely because mom and dad need it to thrive. And we truly believe they do too. It is just part of how we roll around here”. I never thought about it like that before, but it is exactly how I feel. I feel like I need it to thrive, and sometimes I wonder what I am going to do if there is a rebellion against it. It is part of our family fabric too, and I love the thought of “sorry kids, this is just what we do”.
I had to do it as two comments, because my big long ramble the post comment icon was hidden!! Here is the rest lol!
We have just visited Utah, and we went to Little Wild Horse Canyon (specifically inspired by your post that I had saved from a couple of years ago!). We walked up LWH in the morning and then in the evening I wanted to go up Bell. I thought about running it on my own, and then we decided that we would do it as a family. The kids didn’t want to go – this was the first time they had refused an adventure. Our 12 year old even said she wanted to stay back with the grandparents in the trailer and do the DISHES!!!! But my husband so no, we are all going. Bad attitudes to begin with and then once we got in the groove they loved it. It was a good lesson for all of us. Thanks for sharing an excellent tidbit of encouragement 🙂
SO glad you got to make it down there and then had a great experience! Feel free to add any of your own tips to our trip report!