LOCALadk Magazine

LOCALadk 15 First, have low expectations when combining winter elements and young children. I do not mean don't set goals; goals are great. But do not become so married to a distance or destination that if you don't make it, you feel frustrated. Set your goal, then set approxi- mately 2,938,940 other adjusted situations that you decide you are okay with and go from there. I cannot tell you the countless times we misjudged a route, the depth and weight of the snow, or the bitterly cold wind that was just too much for the kids to tolerate without shedding tears. I have learned over time to pack the cocoa, a light sled, and a waterproof blanket and just see how far we get. When you start to feel ev- eryone is hitting a wall, it's time to turn that moment into magic. Have them help find a shelter, a stump, or some pine boughs that will do. Dig out the snow and lay down the blanket. Pour the cocoa and chat about what you see and hear. With all other expectations put aside, everyone can take a deep breath. Success. It was the afternoon of December 31st, 2021. We were hours away from ringing in the new year here in Inlet, N.Y., and frankly, as I recall, we were all very eager to do so. We wanted to pack the sec- ond year of a pandemic behind us and were ready to ring in 2022 with hope and optimism. We set out on our traditional trek into the forest to the Seventh Lake Lean-to campsite with three kids under 5 in tow. The trail is not long, a quarter mile at best, so we had a 98% success rate getting there with minimal face-down crying. The kids carried their own cups in anticipation of an afternoon hot cocoa prize. Once there, we started a fire and brought some bone broth and cut veggies to a boil in a big camping pot. The snow was light still, only a few inches deep, so naturally, the boys easily began digging, find- ing the barely frozen earth below. They were tossing stones out onto the ice and were taking turns sliding down icy rocks on the shoreline like little otters. We talked about the past year, all the trib- ulations, and set goals for the future, the glittering frozen lake in front of us setting the stage for our wishful expectations. We added precooked quinoa and spices to the soup and called the boys to bring their stones. They eagerly (and carefully) plopped stones into the boiling soup. Their eyes were eager as we explained that the stones were the most important ingredient ― I think the story we tell changes every time. Regardless, they were deeply a part of what we were doing. When the soup was ready, we laid our wool and waterproof blankets down in the snowy lean-to and poured the soup. Laughing as the "magic" stones plopped into our cups, we then tossed them back onto the earth, where they'd happily resided only moments prior. After the soup, the kids en- joyed their cocoa. We talked about what a delicious meal it was, how lucky we were to have all that we have. The thing is, when you are out in nature, living off the land and building things from scratch, if even only for a moment, everything tastes better. When we clear space in our minds and hearts to live in the moment, to be outside, we are shocked at how quickly blankets feel warmer, mittens and hats become prized possessions, and present company becomes the focus. In the end, we packed up our things, put snow on our fire and waved goodbye to the precious, silent, glittering lake, and trudged through the woods home, the babes happily running ahead fueled by cocoa, with mittens undoubt- edly grasping nature's "treasures" for me to discover later. All was well. While my family places outdoor time as a central focus in our day-to-day lives, I am here to tell you that getting little ones outside was not always this easy. It. Took. Me. Time. I had to learn to set my own expectations aside, how to gear activities to set us up for emotional success and how to dress, pack, and so forth. If I were to give myself some tips a couple of years ago, this is what I would have said.

• Cover