After a morning at the library filled with reading, music and dancing (ya’ll, story time is lit!), my four year old daughter and I headed to the creek to savor the Texas heat before winter arrives. She is in the water asking questions and blurting out observations before I can complete three steps. We enjoyed the cool of the water on our skin as we slowed our pace and our rhythm matching the nature surrounding us. We watched as two cranes sauntered through the water looking for lunch and became witness to smaller stalking birds noting the pace of their victorious launch, their beaks pulling in slippery fish.
Shallow pools of water punctuated the creek edge while a current passed through the center; rocks stacked deliberately on one side creating a damn. September leaves rushed by. We found ourselves standing in the current, interrupting the leaf journeys with our bulky legs. I challenged my daughter to grab leaves before they passed her. Bending down gleefully to catch one she accepted the challenge. I too started grabbing for leaves and felt like we had created our own live “Danny Go” game. We giggled and slipped on the algae covered rocks, fighting gravity to stay upright. We made quick friends with a little boy and his grandma. We entertained him as his boogie board floated away and his grandma rushed to save it. We sat on the rocks and ate our snack talking about bugs and reptiles. And then, too soon, it was time to say goodbye.
I savor these memories. I write lengthy, wordy and possibly over descriptive blog posts about them because they are fleeting. And, because I can’t stress the importance of learning through life. Let’s put our screens away and connect with our children, at the creek, at the park, in the backyard and wherever we can. Let’s notice the bright smiles and joy that comes from the wonder of the world around us. Get outside today and learn.
