Monday, July 22, 2013

A Date: One-on-One Kiddo Time

My boy had been wanting to go down to the river and find some great animal tracks to cast. He learned how to make print casts in a class he is taking once a week this summer. Friday proved to be too busy so a date was made for Saturday morning.









After breakfast we set out, just the two of us, for the river. 

We hunted the mud along the rivers edge for just the right tracks.

Along the way he proudly showed me some of the things he is learning about in his class. Where the skunk family lives (very good to know), how to dig up an ant lion and watch it rebury itself (I had never seen one in real life before) and various other things. He was happy to be the teacher and took to the role very well. 

We spotted wildlife and they spotted us. We watched respectfully as the heron watched the goose family parade by, the family of squirrels darted around the rocks with the whip tail lizard joining them and the sweet duck coming close to investigate us in return. 

We were on and off the main trail, heading down to the river each time we spotted mud with potential for good tracks. We moved through brush and past trees talking about the newly forming Russian olives taking shape, how animals use feathers they find to make nests, what creature could have laid the amazing tiny eggs in the twig, and how swollen the river now was with the coming of the thundershowers.

Finally, in our last attempt to find great tracks before heading home we found just the right ones: a deep deer impression, what he thought was a baby raccoon scratching the dirt, and one of a more domestic nature, probably dog. 

We set up our collars around the tracks, mixed our plaster and poured. Then there was the waiting. We talked a lot; about the nature around us, about his class, about Lego and the games he was making up. We played a stick battle with my invading forces from the river being swiftly defeated by his defending army. We crouched down under low tree branches to explore the surrounding areas, my knees got muddy keeping up. He was happy to be the lead scout.

It was so very good to have this time with him. He is so thoughtful, cleaver, witty and inquisitive. We rarely get this one-on-one time together but it is so necessary. 

This time had me thinking of ways to get more of this quite, special time with each of the kiddos. Without family and a fledgling friend support network it is hard. 

Do you manage to get one-on-one time with each of your kids? 
How do you do it?

p.s. I will share our track casts later this week!


19 comments:

  1. The pic with the heron took my breath away. I have never been close to one so I can only imagine the experience being something to treasure. As for the eggs, funny that I immediately thought of ants' eggs. There's wouldn't be on a branch though but we've seen many under upturned rocks. Very cool.

    Love you got some one one one. It's so wonderful and so rare for us. Mostly my big guy, as he matures, wants this focused time and it's so wonderful to be able to connect with them like that. But when it does happen it's so fun and we feel even closer sharing that time.

    Can't wait to see the tracks! I thought of doing that here but don't know where to go...

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    1. With all of your mud you guys can surely find a place to do track casts. We used to see tracks all the time on the rails to trails trail. Even if they were just dog or cat tracks around the hood or down the trail by your house it would be cool. I am thinking of keeping a cast making kit in the car so when we find super cool tracks we can cast them. Nature nerdage at its finest here :-)

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  2. what a beautiful place to spend time with your boy... special place, special moment. beautiful pictures.

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  3. I think one of the neatest things is when your kids get to teach you what they know. Especially if you are out in the world together somewhere.

    I was just thinking last night about how much time I have with my youngest, with one away in college, and one almost there. I sort of have the opposite problem at this point in my life--I need to get that kid some sibling time! Coming soon…

    I love seeing your photos of your corner of the world.

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    1. It is great to learn from them!
      That is funny about siblings time. We are really on different ends of the spectrum. :-)

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  4. An owl-fly laid the eggs, unfortunately I don't know the American species.

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    1. Thank you very much. This led to some great research just now and helped us identify this: http://simplethingsnaturenotebook.blogspot.com/2013/06/mystery-insect.html
      Which we are now thinking is an adult ant lion.
      It is amazing how similar the owl-fly and ant lions are... And their similarities to dragon and damselflies. Fascinating.

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  6. I think it's wonderful you had one on one with a child. I look back and while we did many things together as a family, we have been one on one. So glad you embraced it and are now thinking of more ways to incorporate single outings!

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    1. It was really great. We occasionally get time in the car when one of them comes to the store with me but this was so peaceful and slow. Wonderful!

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  7. we do alone time with each kid. they always get to go out to eat with mama for their birthday and then we alternate on the weekends so each kid gets a little one on one attention from each of us throughout the month.

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    1. I think that is what I am going to strive for on the weekends. I like the birthday time with Mama too!

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  8. We haven't figure this out yet. Though while we've been in Italy we've tried to have the grandparents step in to entertain for a bit. But I too am seeing the need for S to have one on one time with each of us.

    What fantastic animal sightings too!

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    1. I am sure it has been nice to have the grandparents around... and so good for them (girls and grandparents) to spend time together.
      I have definitely seen the need more and more as the kids get older.

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  9. Oh I can't wait to see how they turn out:) Your photos always make me think you would make just about the best hiking partner ever! XO

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    1. Aw. Thanks Chrissy. I feel the same when I see your amazing nature photos. How fun it would be to hike together!
      I will share the track casts tomorrow! So fun!

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  10. I only have the one, so the alone time is easy. What I forget to do more often is let him lead sometimes. It's always so delightful!

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    1. Yes! It is so fun to let them lead. Oh, the places they go! ;-)

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