My Kids are Teaching Me

As a parent, one of your jobs is to teach your children. You want them to learn as much as possible, grow into responsible adults, and have strong values they can stand up for. But a funny thing happens as you raise your kids, they begin to open your eyes to new things and teach you things that you may not have realized you have been missing.

In an attempt to get my kids out into nature more this summer, they are working toward Junior Ranger park badges. To earn a badge, they must complete a number of nature related activities. The kids are "mildly" interested. LOL

Yesterday, I took them to a local park to complete one of the activities. "Make observations of wildlife." Our park has a lake and I thought this would be the perfect place to observe wildlife. The kids immediately pick a spot on a pier to sit and look at the lake.

Their observations included:
Saw a green dragonfly
Heard crickets chirping
Saw birds flying

Then I pulled out crackers. I had intended to feed the ducks at the lake. However, a huge summer camp was in full swing and the ducks were nowhere to be found. I assume they were hiding from the running, screaming children.

I broke a cracker and threw pieces into the water. I thought maybe a bird would swoop down. Nope. Then my son began eating the crackers. And then...

FISH! Fish come up from the bottom of the lake and grab the floating crackers like they are worms! I didn't know fish would eat crackers?! The kids are excited now and both breaking and throwing pieces of crackers. The brim or crappie fish are swarming us now. So cute.

Eventually we move on and leave the park. I told the kids "You taught me something new today. Fish like crackers!"  But more than that, the kids showed me how just observing nature can be new, exciting, and fascinating.

I had forgotten what it was like to be a child and become entranced at watching a bird soaring high in the sky. Or a dragonfly's beautiful metallic color. Or a squirrel searching for nuts. Or a robin pecking the ground to grab a worm.

Nature can be mesmerizing. And this summer, I hope that we spend more time in it.