Today we went on a long nature walk through a local field. It has big hills, lots of wild flowers, and most importantly, birds! (Which we are studying in Science)
We are now quite familiar with the House Sparrow, the American Robin, the Red-winged Blackbird and the Western Meadowlark. It's very exciting to see these birds and know their identification. Today we also saw a few Egrets. It was fun to watch them through the binoculars and watch the kids hunt for their nests carefully in the grass. At the end of our walk we were blessed with a spectacular display of about 10 Red-winged Blackbirds all flying low right in front of us. The kids loved to see the flashes of red mixed with the black.
As we came to the top of a big hill in the field, in the distance we could see our old Elementary school that was just "getting out" for the day. Parents were lined up around the block in their cars, traffic was abundant, and as I looked ahead at my 8yo with a pair of binoculars to her eyes watching the sky, and my 10yo holding my toddlers hand so he didn't fall as he navigated a steep hill, I realized that although I sometimes miss my own personal freedoms, and quite often complain that this is the hardest thing I have ever had to do, that these moments are more important.
And I ponder....I was a little selfish when I wanted them gone at school all the time. Now I find myself feeling selfish for keeping them home to myself. It's a good trade...
We are now quite familiar with the House Sparrow, the American Robin, the Red-winged Blackbird and the Western Meadowlark. It's very exciting to see these birds and know their identification. Today we also saw a few Egrets. It was fun to watch them through the binoculars and watch the kids hunt for their nests carefully in the grass. At the end of our walk we were blessed with a spectacular display of about 10 Red-winged Blackbirds all flying low right in front of us. The kids loved to see the flashes of red mixed with the black.
As we came to the top of a big hill in the field, in the distance we could see our old Elementary school that was just "getting out" for the day. Parents were lined up around the block in their cars, traffic was abundant, and as I looked ahead at my 8yo with a pair of binoculars to her eyes watching the sky, and my 10yo holding my toddlers hand so he didn't fall as he navigated a steep hill, I realized that although I sometimes miss my own personal freedoms, and quite often complain that this is the hardest thing I have ever had to do, that these moments are more important.
And I ponder....I was a little selfish when I wanted them gone at school all the time. Now I find myself feeling selfish for keeping them home to myself. It's a good trade...
1 comments:
Shi said...
That sounds so idyllic. I can't wait for Spring to be here in full abundance, so that we can enjoy more wildlife. I can see your kids just as you describe them. Love it.
I felt the same way at first. It was hard to accept the fact that I was never going to be able to say, "when my kids go away to school, I'm going to..." But now I wouldn't change my time with them for anything else. It is truly one of the best parts of my life. :)