firsts

What fun to enjoy a ‘first time’ with my boys still. 7and 10 years into life and they still have so many ‘firsts’ to experience. This weekend we were camping in WI. The campground had fishing poles you could use along with a tackle box – all three kids experienced fishing for the first time ever!! So fun. I love teaching. I’m coming to understand that teaching is a joy, and a big piece of me that I’m discovering. It’s something I’ve really enjoyed during the little summer workshops I offered in the backyard this summer, and now to give a little fishing instruction. Not that I’m all that experienced, but I used to fish with my dad and grandpa as a kid.  We caught and released lots and lots of sunfish … I think I was the boys’ age. Dad taught me how to cast the line and how to bait the hook (I think he baited way more than I ever did, ew). I had so many flashbacks to those days as I was instructing my own son on how to release the line at just the right time; how to hold the button with your thumb, whip your arm and wrist without catching on the bushes or people behind you, then release the pressure on the button at just the right moment to cast the line out into the dark waters of the lake. What a rush to watch him feel that perfect release the first time! Ah, my teacher’s heart, my mother’s heart, swelling with pride and joy in watching his satisfaction and experience.  We cast for over an hour … learning how to be patient … waiting … watching … learning. The fish would nibble right below us, following the bait, but never really biting. Maybe next time …

Buggy … beautiful … loving the millions and millions of stars … and the twinkling lights of candles and and lanterns. Love the nature, and the quiet. Love the abundance of wild flowers everywhere I look. Love the experiences as a family. Love watching a “first time” experience. Love playing at the beach, swimming in the lake, boys’ climbing trees, smores over the fire. Love my family. Love everything about camping. Love my life.