I keep saying to myself that I wish I’d discovered my enjoyment of hiking and backpacking earlier in life. It has really only been in the last several years that my husband and I have pursued those activities more diligently, and now that we’re in our forties, we certainly have a few more aches and pains and health issues than in our younger years. If only I’d had grand adventures back when they were easier to have….

In spite of that, I continue to long for more out of our days than the monotonous mundane (although ordinary days at home are nice too). It’s hard enough to convince kids that there’s more to life than screens, but convincing them that getting out and doing hard things is worth it? That’s a whole other beast. 

However, I do believe it’s true that the behavior we model will impact them for the rest of their lives, and that includes how we spend our time. I hope they see me reading my Bible, loving the people God puts in my path, and pursuing adventurous endeavors – we only get one life! I also hope they see me working to remove my bad habits and becoming a better person, not getting stuck in my ways and avoiding change. Though growth is hard, it’s worth it, and I hope they come to see that.

Despite having my own wishes for their futures, I recognize that their paths may not look like mine. Thinking back on my life, I realize that it took me years to discover some of my interests, and it took self-reflection to discover who I really was and who I wanted to be. I’m sure that, like all of us, my children will grow and change and develop throughout the years, stumbling upon new goals and purposes as they mature. My hope is that my parenting reflects these desires I hold as their mother:

– Cultivate their individual interests. In our family, we have a range of talents and hobbies, including art, music, writing, theater, survival, archery, cooking, movie-making, and who knows what will come up next. I want them to feel supported in their pursuits, even if they aren’t of particular interest to me.

– Teach them perseverance. Doing anything well requires time and sacrifice. There are no shortcuts and no easy ways out, so if you want to learn, you will put in the work.

– Recognize when it’s time to let go. Some of life’s seasons require that we favor certain tasks over others, and that can mean taking a step back. Learning to recognize what is truly important and prioritizing accordingly can be tough skills to master.

– Enjoy life right where you are. Passion wanes, but contentment can always be present.

In time, my kids may come to appreciate hiking – and probably other activities they’re not that into –  more than they do now. None of us stays the same as when we first started out, and I’m so grateful that my life’s pursuits have changed over the years, sometimes guiding me back to first loves, and sometimes charting new territory. Regardless of what my children choose to like doing, I long for them to maintain a sense of wonder and awe about the world, seeking adventure and purpose in their pursuits.

As I’ve matured in my faith and developed a seasoned perspective, I understand more than ever that spiritual health has to be nourished above all else. The mind, body, and soul are truly connected, but it’s easy to prioritize mind and body first, forgetting that the spiritual is the deep well from which all else springs forth.

We just don’t have that perspective as kids, so it’s easy to see how their endeavors aren’t always going to match ours. And that’s okay – as parents, we continue to guide and model and teach, encouraging them as we do our best to cultivate character. One day we’ll look up and see them on paths we never dreamed, in the midst of adventures we never imagined.