The Trail to Hope, Health, & Happiness

If you saw my stories on Instagram yesterday you would have seen my kids and I hiking along the trails at a park nearby our house. That trail we explored yesterday for the third time, was the very first trail we hiked on as a family in April 2020.

My husband suggested after weeks of cabin fever that we pack up a lunch and head to a nearby park known for its family friendly trails. Agreeing we need a change of scenery, I packed up peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and added a few extra snacks just in case for my the two little boys that would be joining us and my growing belly. Water bottles replenished, we headed out the door.

Finding our way through the park, we found a place to sit for a short picnic. I brought along a book about trees and we enjoyed our lunch before we headed to the trail. My oldest started us off, eager to find the blue markers that would guide through the trail, his younger brother trying hard to keep up. Within a few minutes of our endeavor, we heard footsteps behind us and looked back to a group horseback riding behind us. Pulling off to the side, my youngest son stared wide eyed as those massive, yet gentle animals walked gracefully past him. It was an unforgettable, unexpected experience. His favorite animal just happened to pass us by as we headed out for what we thought was a short walk in the woods. That was only the beginning of an enchanting experience out in the great outdoors. It was simple, it was spectacular, and it kept going. Throughout the rest of our hike, we saw many more horses and their footsteps along the way, even their waste offered a notable mention as we walked by. My son’s eyes sparkled as he watched each every one of their tails sway in the wind that afternoon.

As we continued on our path, my boys’ feet began to pick up speed. Staring at the wide open trail to explore, they took off running wildly and freely through the path ahead of them. As their mom, aware at any moment they could trip and fall, I wanted to tell them to slow down and to watch for tree roots along the way. But as I watched them, I couldn’t hold them back. For weeks we had been confined to our home and while we played outdoors, it wasn’t the same. The world they had explored since they were born was so different, most of it shut off to them. Even driving through streets we once traveled frequently on, we would come across playgrounds we spent many afternoons at, places where they placed their friends and learned to take risks in a safe and controlled environments — those places taped off, restricted. Every time I saw that tape, it felt like part of my children’s childhood had been cancelled. It was hard for me to see and I usually drove by without much of a glance. I realized how much we had all taken for granted, a simple afternoon at the playground with friends.

It’s in my nature that when there’s a problem in my life, I pour myself into it and swim around in it until I found a solution that brings me back to shore. And that’s much how I handled things in the beginning, dividing into preschool puzzles, crafts, activities, experiments, and teaching ABC’s and 123’s. When trips were cancelled, I brought the vacation to our home. But none of it let us breathe the way we did that day, on that open trail.

Out there on that trail, my kids could run free. There were no barriers, no restrictions, no worries. Nothing cancelled. And as I watched them run, I couldn’t stop them. I couldn’t tell them to watch out. They needed this and I needed to step back and let them run, wild and free. As they were releasing some much needed energy, I realized I was too. Fortunately, there weren’t too many tree roots along the way to trip over. My two little boys ran from marker to marker, laughing and cheering as they led the way. My husband, our dog, their soon to be baby brother, and myself, all trailing behind. Breathing in that fresh air, I realized how important it was not only to my kids, but to my husband and I as well.

While the rest of the world seemed closed off to us, this one was not. The natural world was still very much available. This magnificent place that my children could run free and explore had been just down the road and if we hadn’t been forced to pause, I’m not sure we would have ever found it. But I knew in that moment, no matter whenever “normal” returned, we were not going to every let go of it. These hikes, these walks through the woods, would remain part of our routine regardless of the season, regardless of the opportunities available to us.

Walking along those trails, my children have learned about wildlife, trees, and the importance of taking care of our environment. They have climbed tree trunks, sat on logs, stared into streams, and collected bucket loads of rocks that I find in my car, my pockets, and my washing machine. They have learned to work together when we are lost and to pack extra supplies for unexpected detours. They have learned to lead, to follow, and to, most importantly, walk together.

Since then, we have spent many of our weekends together hiking as a family, finding new places to explore both in our area and the places we visit.

Being outside is incredibly important for kids and it’s recommended that they get at least sixty minutes outdoors every day. Outdoor play is important for healthy growth and development, including improving social interactions with kids. However, evidence is also emerging that suggests that not only is being outdoors important for kids but interacting with the natural elements found in nature may be even more beneficial for our children.

According to a recent article published in the journal of Pediatrics, evidence suggests that exploring nature rich environments such as gardening, green spaces, wilderness experience, and nature walks, may offer its own specific health benefits for children. The most compelling evidence was positive effects on physical activity and cognitive, behavioral, and mental health of children, including their attention and mood. Engaging with nature may help reduce obesity and improve physical activity while also having positive benefits on children’s mental health, reducing their stress levels.

This article went on to suggest that while more evidence is needed, public health should be prioritizing not only access to safe and quality education, health care, housing, neighborhoods, water, and food for children, but also the need for access to safe nature-rich environments.

Yesterday, as we pulled into the park to return to that same trail we hiked on two years ago, fights and complaints were already beginning over which trail we would do and who would be the leader, including our dog Penny, who always wants to be the leader. But once we step out of the car and started our hike, it really didn’t take too long before the energy changed, all of our moods lifted, and we were far more relaxed. All of us far less worried about competitions between one another and our own individual wants and desires. Walking and running along those trails, we are quickly able reestablish the connections in our relationships that can sometimes fray a bit during a busy week of work and on-call responsibilities, school and other commitments.

Along that trail, my boys worked together to find the next trail marker, they showed each other new discoveries along the way and offered their own ideas of what they meant — the imaginations of a four and six year old can’t even compare to some of the best blockbusters. And while they explore, my husband and I get a few moments to catch up and explore our own relationship. We can’t have a five minute conversation at home without being interrupted by our kids or a phone or a task we thought we really needed to do, but out there on those trails, there we can reconnect. We can focus on each other and our conversations, both the flow of them and the content of them, are just simpler.

And that baby that was growing in my belly two years ago, well, yesterday he went from walking the past few weeks at home to running those trails. Putting him down on the muddy surface, he laughed at the squishy feeling beneath his feet, he looked up at me, and he started running. His favorite thing in the world besides perhaps his family, are trees. Ever since he was able to vocalize it around a year old, he let us know he loved trees. All winter, it could be four degrees and he would still want to go outside just to touch the branches and see the trees up close. Running his fingers along the trunk, he would look up at me and grin soaking in the great outdoors. His favorite place to play in our home is with his trains and cars is in on the window seat that looks out at our backyard — the play place that looks out at the trees. I often wonder if in some way, all of that time we spent walking amongst the trees while I was pregnant and carrying him as an infant, somehow contributed to this fascination with trees. Much of our life, our playdates, our celebrations with family and friends were outside amongst the shade of the trees — and he now couldn’t be happier anyplace else.

I wasn’t much of a hiker growing up, in fact that’s an understatement. Ask my college roommate and she will tell you, I wasn’t a hiker at all. And I’ve never really loved to get muddy and dirty. But now my house is full of rocks, dirt, and muddy shoes.

I’ve spent more time staring at worms than ever before. But I’ve learned dirt can be vacuumed, mud can washed, and the great outdoors is my children’s playground that will never be restricted or cancelled. It is a place that we go to as a family to regroup and find peace and calm from the “busy.” It is a place that I hope they return to throughout their lives both when they need to and just because they enjoy it.

Those trails have led us through a lot of muck and mud benefiting the healthy growth and development of both the young and the old.

Some tips if you are new to hiking.

Check the weather first, including the radar! You don’t want to get stuck in thunderstorms or be ill prepared for the cold or heat. Wear layers and remember, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes.”
Figure out where you are hiking and bring a long a map. Cell phone service might not be available and not all trails are marked as well as others. Know how long your trail is and be prepared to turn around early if you need to.
Bring more water and snacks than you need to. We often bring along sandwiches with us, even if it’s hours from lunch time. You never know when you might need a meal. And my kids at least, are always hungry. You also never know when you might just want to stop and explore an area that might take longer than expected. Be prepared with water and food.
Bring sunscreen and bug spray, regardless of the season.
Wear good shoes! We invested in hiking boots for our kids and pass them down to the next kid, without a care for the mud that is sure to cover them.
Be ready for allergy season if you or someone in your family suffers from allergies. My boys have asthma and allergies and I know I’m going to need to be ready with their inhalers in case they need them. I also have them bathe or shower as soon as we come home when the pollen counts are rising so they don’t track into the house or sit in all day.
Use the bathroom before you head out!
And if you can’t get outside that day, at least open the shades. One study showed that even looking out windows and seeing green space can have a positive impact on mood.
**And remember to check for ticks when you come inside!**