Violet from the backseat: "Mama, what are we going to do today mama?"
Me: "I dunno, what would you LIKE to do today babe?"
Violet: "Mama, you like the mountains"
Me: "Yes I do Violet, they are beautiful."
Violet: "Okay, let's go to the mountains mama!"
Violet's shoes finally dried from our last occasion in the rain, so naturally we had to go get them soaked again. This time we took an umbrella (which Vi wanted absolutely nothing to do with-and rightly so!) and strolled down the River Trail on the west side of Spring Hollow. It was freezing, but the weather didn't slow this baby down for a second. I don't remember enjoying being outside so much when I was her age. I was afraid of bugs (any bugs), and dirt was never really my thing (at least as far as I know). Things obviously changed but not for a very long time. There was a time (and I can't remember how old I was) but my family decided to have a picnic at a park, I could see little bugs flying around and would NOT get out of the car to eat. Pathetic. But hey, that's how it was and all I can say now is I'm glad I grew out of those particular quirks. I still have a thing with spiders in the house, and will clean our little home top to bottom if I find one hiding somewhere (and make Cristian use Raid in all the hard-to-access corners), but I think that's reasonable. Totally reasonable.
Anyway, I don't want Violet to be like that. I don't want her to be afraid of insects, or animals in general. Do I want her to be safe around potentially dangerous one, of course, but I do NOT want my fears as a child to be hers. I think that's part of the reason we go on these excursions. There are plenty of bugs and mud (she does have a thing with getting dirty once she REALIZES she's dirty) and nature and fresh air and so many other good things about it. And maybe if I push her to find bugs interesting and keep teaching her cool things about them then she'll be less like I was growing up.
So far so good in that department, if you minus 2 days ago when she came running and crying into our bedroom, panicked about a "snake" in the living room which turned out to be a caterpillar (why were you there mr. caterpillar? so random). Sighs. I suppose she's bound to have some of her mama's quibbles. But she's making me better. I actually go OUT in the winter, in the snow, and cold, and wet, because she's a snow bunny and loves every part of it. And if I'm honest, it's a lot more fun to experience things with someone who's still relatively new to it. She's my best friend and I can't believe she will be 3 this month.
After all the running and jumping and getting wet and muddy we came home and I popped Violet into a warm bath, which she almost fell asleep in. After getting her dry and snug she's been sleeping for the last 2 hours and it's almost time to go get her dad. My favorite thing in the world is watching her wake up so....gonna go do that! Happy early Mother's Day to all you lovely ladies!
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