Salamander Search.
Reason number 4,589 parenting is difficult: Figuring out how to manage a personality you don’t understand.
Poor cautious Rosie.
Today we went on a salamander search. The park guide led us on a hike upstream–we actually hiked in the creek. In some spots it was deep, other areas were shallow. I had so much fun! I wore Ada in the mei tai carrier on my chest and I had a backpack with water and snacks on my back. I was a little worried about losing my balance on the mossy rocks in the creek with more than 20 pounds of baby strapped to my front, but thankfully that didn’t happen.
Rosie…wanted to have fun. She really wanted to. Unfortunately it was wet, and muddy. Kids were falling in the water and splashing. There were these really cool water bugs. OMG NOT BUGS!
Salamander searching was very fun.
Those are salamander eggs on the underside of a rock, and a teeny tiny baby.
And a crawdad!
Dinner? Not today, my crustaceous little friend.
Her boots got full of water and her pants got wet. It was tragic. She proclaimed how much she hated that place and she would never, ever go again.
(Well sorry sister, but we are going again. Not in the creek, but to their spring break program and to the wildflower hike coming up in April.)
Hopefully she can build up enough stamina so that we can hike the two miles to the river this summer. Can’t wait!! I have decided to not let whining get me down, we will march on. Even if she doesn’t eventually start enjoying it, I will at least know I tried.
After all of that whining and panic and doom during the (fun) hike, Rosie got very happy over the animal bones on the table inside of the nature center.
Clearly we know how to make the most of educational materials.
These are the friends we went with.
Here we are post-hike. I was tired out from lugging Ada upstream, up a steep hill, all while dragging Rosie’s hand. Ada was passed out cold.
And Rosie…oh dear. What a face!
looks like so much fun. spring hasn’t quite sprung here yet for splashing in creeks. my oldest has hiking issues every spring. too cold. too far. too tired. too hungry etc etc…. yet it seems every time, by the end of the hike “i want to stay here forever. i want to camp here. can we bring our tent next time.” we spent 6 months living off the grid in the woods a couple years back, yet every time we go into the woods she’s terrified of everything, like she forgot we lived in the woods. she is very excited this year however because she’s learned about treehouses and wants to build one for every one of her friends. she has designed about 8 of them, even for the babies in our life. just keep bringing her on adventures like this and she’ll learn to love it.