You know the story all too well. One day you are focused and consumed by a woman. You are sending text messages on the regular. Talking hours on end to her at night and spending every waking free second available with her. The next thing you know… you are one of two working professionals with two kids that depend on each of you to provide their every need. Most of all, they depend on you to provide your full, undivided ATTENTION. Everything else probably would not be so draining if it were not for the last part. THE ATTENTION! The “Hey dad, watch this!” from your toddler demanding to be seen. The “this” being the most unimpressive, insignificant, least complicated action you can think of (like biting a Cheerio, a freaking CHEERIO!) for the THOUSANDTH time, all for the ATTENTION. I make no qualms about letting that toddler know that I was “NOT IMPRESSED”, but that’s just me and my parenting style leads with honesty 😊.
Let Me See You Work, Work, Work, Work, Work, WORK!: There is no escaping the demands of work. Whether you work for somebody else, or for yourself. Depending on your profession, some work never stops even when you get home. Some people cannot cut themselves off from the work they do even when they get home. It could be that some issue on a particular day stays on their conscientious or they actually have to physically continue working when they get home. There are those working dads that frequently travel. Whether they are journeymen with huge power companies, white collar corporate types employed by global organizations, or our Brothers and Sisters in the United States Uniformed Services (U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Commissioned Corps, Coast Guard, Navy, Air Force, Marines and the Army).
These reasons alone warrant a break away from the demands of life and a recalibration of what is REALLY important. A hike can be just what your family needs.
- Fresh Air: Have you ever tried to spend all day indoors with a 2, going on 3-year-old!?!? Take that a step further, now imagine yourself in an 800 square feet apartment. I would petition the International War Crimes Commission on careful consideration of designating this as an act of TORTURE. Now add a screaming infant and we have a powder keg folks! Time to go deep in to the mountains where no one cares if the baby is screaming and the toddler is ripping and running, yelling and exploring NEW THINGS! This totally happens. Try taking a 2-year-old on a 12 mile hike. Crying and screaming at points along the way…but I digress. Of course, in reality these are “First World Problems”, am I right?
- No Wi-Fi: How many of y’all just sucked your teeth, cringed, or got turned off by the mere mention of no Wi-Fi? “How dare they not have cellular service!”. The most dominating, thieves of our time and attention are attached to the palms of our hands or pockets, everywhere we go. I possess no secret potion or spell to cast, to ward off this MASTER OF DISTRACTION and its tricky ways. So why not render its powers impotent. Ok magic metaphors aside, getting away to areas with no cellular service can have such a great impact. While in Death Valley, with no Wi-Fi, not cellular service, and not good food to speak of…me, JoAnna and Elliora had a specular time after our hikes to see the sights, just opening our front door and enjoying the scenery, the different terrains and just being present.
- The Bond: Our family hikes, ALL of our family hikes and joint Physical Activity events consist of me trying to keep up with JoAnna. Most of the time I am chasing a view of her rear, which I am A-OK with 😊. During those moments of synchronization, I can engage her in deep conversations about her level of joy, her concerns, our future plans, other family members and friends, etc. Those conversations give me guidance on our trajectory and allow me to change course if necessary. I have stated previously, and will state again, our marriage was built on three pillars, so through the hustle and bustle of life, hiking gives us the ability to reconnect and reaffirm our commitment to these three pillars. Plus, few things compare to witnessing your spouse in their element and in nature submitting to the needs of her offspring to get through the hike. The Bond, Part 2: I feel fully confident that the bond I have developed with my daughter, Elliora Zyah, through ALL these excursions, will not be surpassed or replaced by those developed by Tiras Malachi in the future. But again, that’s just me and my parenting style leads with honesty 😊. This girl has given us the confidence to know that we can take on some MASSIVE hikes as a family. I cannot wait until she outgrows the hiking backpack infant carrier, GETS THE HECK OFF MY BACK and hikes alongside us. Grant it, I will miss “gentle” encouragement to “GO FASTER!”, her being persuaded to take off my hat and scratch my head for me or sing a NONSTOP and never-ending nursery rhyme until she falls asleep. The bond is real! #GoodLuckTirasMalachi
- CHALLENGE: What is life, without a challenge? Seriously though, there are few greater feelings than setting your mind to a task and executing. This ZEST for challenges is diminishing lately, but that could be attributable to my surroundings or the handful of people I see on social media. Envision this monumental task being a long strenuous hike (like the Highline Trail in Glacier National Park in Montana) and insert your family. The experience, the stories, the bonding and the fresh air! It also gives your family the opportunity to see YOU in action, sacrificing and submitting yourself to their needs. You do not truly know a person until you have been in a TRYING or challenging time with them. The more challenges you confront the better prepared you are! Let me be clear, there is no shame WHATSOEVER if the task is initiated and not completed. There is nothing wrong with trying and turning back, especially if safety is the issue (SAFETY FIRST). Live to fight another day, right? However, if you count you and your family out before you even get started, then where is the fun in that?!?! You will miss out on so many experiences. Venture to the zone of discomfort, unless like some of us, that zone of discomfort is actually comforting (weird). Observe how you and your family take on challenges grow together as you overcome them. OMG…IT IS A BEAUTIFUL THING! ***BONUS***
- Hiking with you family may sound like a group effort. It totally is, but there are times where the super motivated and lightweight spouse (also known as my wife JoAnna) get so far ahead, and my toddler in tote (also known as my noisy motivational chatterbox) is fast asleep. I call these windows of opportunity my “Golden Moments with God”. Realize the plural is intentional because I have been on enough long hikes to anticipate these moments. These are JOYFUL moments. When the slow rock of the hiking infant carrier backpack has lulled Elliora Zyah to sleep, I have a chance to be “alone” and take in all of God’s creations in my surroundings. When the discussions of plans for the future with my wife cease, I invite God to laugh at them. I seek his guidance, because if the Good Lord does not bless our path, it is not one I desire to travel.
End Note: Whether it is a well paved hike with the newborn in a stroller or a true and proper hike with an elevate heart rate, sweat dripping down the brim of your hat and your butt crack, the mere action of introduction to nature can be beneficial to all parties involved. Be careful, it may become addictive. But would that rally be a bad thing? Do yourself AND your marriage a FAVOR…Take A Hike! Take A Stroll! Take A Walk! Then circle back to Active-Dad.com and SHARE, SHARE, SHARE!