Exploring!!

Anna, one of the two of my explorers, found a Robins nest on ground in our woods! She was so thrilled! Anna loves birds and to find an old nest is a treasure for her! Going back in the woods to explore and find 'cool things' is something that Anna has really been into since it has gotten warm. It brings back childhood memories of when I would go exploring in our woods. I loved being in the country!! I am surprised that I loved it so much,being that I loved hanging out with a lot of friends from school that all lived"up town" in Oxford. I was not a 'Townie' but a country girl. At Talawanda High School Townies did not hang with the Country kids. But I was either naive or just really friendly, I was lucky to be good friends with the townies, the country kids, and the canopy kids(the kids who smoked had to go outside under the special canopy the school made for them- can you believe they made a place for smokers!!) Anyway my point is, that I am so glad that I was the country girl. I still love nature, love to be outdoors, and I feel that this is a gift that Joe and I are giving to our daughters. Don't get me wrong, sometimes I would love for the girls to have a bunch of kids to play with all day so Joe and I could hang out more and to have friends to play with on a whim, but what I love more is that they are learning to appreciate their own company, exploring the woods and seeing it with only their eyes. I remember doing this as a young girl. I also remember that this is short lived. Soon they will only want to go places with their girlfriends, including exploring the woods, then boys (we were not allowed in the woods!), and then possibly go out into the world away from this home and these little woods. I know this because I once was 11 with the whole world in front of me- my back yard and 11 acres. I am so glad I was able to explore this world on my own before going out into everyone elses. Sometimes I found myself visiting the woods and our creek like an old friend. It was nice to know I could always go back to my special spots and feel comfortable by myself when I did not always feel comfortable with sharing the world with everyone else. It is hard as a parent to raise your kids with out something or someone for them to play with all the time, but it is worth it, I know because I was a country girl! Thanks Anna for reminding me of these memories. Sorry if I drove you crazy at times Mom and Dad (o.k. most of the time), but obviously I loved the place that you raised me and made our home,it is a big part of who I am. Thank You!