Muddy Feet and Tree Hugs – A Nature Adventure

The girls running around on a journey of discovery.

Summer is slowly drawing to a close. Days are gradually getting shorter, temperatures aren’t soaring quite as high, and most families are preparing for their version of a new school year.

We are going to begin homeschooling with Miss Moo and Miss Roo this fall.  There are several factors in our lives that have lead us to this path and we are embracing it as an opportunity to discover many blessings. I have been doing a great deal of research to dust the cobwebs off the knowledge of my preschool teacher days. One thing that Drew and I have discussed is the need for more nature and earth in our girls lives and in their education. Recesses and play are important, but exploration is key.

This past week the girls and I visited Tuckahoe Plantation, the boyhood home of Thomas Jefferson. Our morning outing started as a quest to see the cows that our local farmers had grazing in the fields lining the Plantation’s driveway and maybe sneak in a little history of the area and the man. It resulting in a nature outing where sensory and discovery reigned.

Don’t Be Afraid of Dirt

Using sticks to garden.

Children love to run and discover along the pathways that they design. Visiting a Plantation with open fields and lawns for discovery after several days of showers means one thing – muddy feet. Moo loved getting her toes “squishy” as she ran. She noticed that little pieces of grass stuck to her legs after she emerged from their lush homes. She also noticed when areas were dry verses when areas were, well, soaked. She  didn’t think she was doing anything wrong by stepping in mud and watching it make  footprints because I reacted to her discovery rather than my notion of appearance.

Don’t get me wrong, this exploration was difficult for me. I despise having wet feet. However chasing after an almost 3 year old and a 16 month old didn’t give me much of a choice. What I DID notice was that I too got lost in the sensations of the experience. I was much more aware when were were in lush garden areas verses areas sloping towards roads and fields. I also noticed that there was a SMELL that lingered with the damp grass near the house that wasn’t present where we loaded in and out of the van.

My Little Tree Hugger

Genuine love.

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