covid-19

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Missing Your Community During COVID
- August 25, 2020
One of the hardest aspects of parenting during a pandemic has been the loss of community. It takes a village to raise a child, so what happens when you’re no longer allowed within six feet of your fellow villagers? Today, we have the amazing Brenna Jeanneret here, writer, climber, and mom, talking about how the loss of her climbing community has affected her and how she’s finding new ways to connect in a COVID-concerned world. We hope this post will help inspire you to connect with your community, reach out to friends, and find new ways to stay in touch with those that mean the most.

The crux

I feel my leg start to shake uncontrollably. “Elvis Leg” is what climbers call it. I am hanging from two fairly large holds and standing on stable, positive footholds staring up at the crux of the route.

As I try to pull myself together, my eyes follow the length of our rope, one end figure-eighted securely to my harness and the other attached to my husband’s belay device. I am 6 bolts off the ground, roughly 35 feet in the air, and because I am leading the climb rather than top-roping it, there is enough slack in the rope for the wind to blow me from side to side. The last carabiner protecting my fall shimmers in the sunlight 3 feet below me and this realization makes my hands sweat.

I try to calm myself by looking out at the ocean view. Cape Hedo in Okinawa, Japan is one of our favorite climbing spots; the water is clear, blue, and expansive. The sound of the waves drowns out the voices below and everything but the climb fades to the background.

Now that the ocean calm has slowed my breathing, I turn my attention back to the climb. I am standing just below the crux, which I have not been able to complete before. I am both nervous and excited. Over the last several days, I’ve been working out all the moves leading up to this point but have not been able to put them all together without falling. Sending this route would validate all the training, the long drives to the crag, and all the mental preparation I’ve done.

The crux move requires that I reach my right hand up and left, crossing my body to a slopey, wrong-facing hold. Readjusting my balance to make the hold “right-facing” is key but made more difficult by the slight overhang in the wall. I will be twisted and off-balance with nothing to catch me but air, creating a real possibility that my arm or leg could catch the rope and flip me upside down.

I chalk up and shake out, one arm at a time as I look at the crux and mentally map out the moves. Something in my brain flips and I decide it’s now or never. I yell down to my husband over the roaring ocean waves that I am ready. Slowly, I reach up to make the move…

Building our community of climbers

As we sit around the fire later that evening, someone passes me a bag of chips going around and congratulates me on my send. It is the hardest climb I have lead to date. As food and beers are passed and shared we recant the day; we talk beta and technique, how my leg shaking leg could be seen from the ground, the way my feet cut from the wall as I hit that cross move and barn-doored out.

I am given hugs and high fives.

The feel of the evening, the fire, the shared experience of failure and success, the warm hazy buzz…it’s something I have thought about often during the pandemic. These things that bring the climbing community together, meeting new people at a crag, a congratulatory high-five, shared food and gear, they are out of reach right now.

Climbing is how my husband and I build community, even in Okinawa, a small Japanese island on the other side of the world. This is what has always worked for us. We are climbers. That is our identity and we have found that following our drive to climb has attracted other like-minded, passionate friends, no matter where we are.

When I got pregnant with our son, we did all we could to hold onto that piece of ourselves and the only community we knew how to build. But my pregnancy was rough and climbing in that way just wasn’t a possibility. I had to find new ways to build a community for myself as a new mom and for my son just coming into the world.

Lack of motivation during COVID

Over the last 2 years and before COVID hit, my son, and I had found families to adventure with, commiserate with, and to love. The climber in me was coming back to life. Getting outside, even on toddler-paced hikes seemed like a huge step in the right direction. Climbing trips were finally starting to become a reality. But, over the last few months, we’ve traded playdates and mini-adventures for the backyard sandbox and neighborhood bike rides in the name of being safe and keeping things close to home.

For weeks after the initial lockdown, I wished we had taken more advantage of the parks when they were open. That we had made more long treks for early morning boulder sessions. If we could just get out for a mini-adventure, I thought, that would change things, we’d get back on track.

I have noticed, however, that since state parks have reopened and visiting them during off-peak hours while practicing social distancing can be entirely safe, my motivation to break our new close-to-home routine is lacking. A “mini-adventure” to a state park just doesn’t hold the same appeal it used to. It now feels overwhelming and exhausting.

Though other feelings and reactions related to COVID have come up this one by far is the most surprising to me. After spending the last 20 years of my life carefully arranging my days and weeks to fit in the most climbing and outdoor time, why, now when we finally have a piece of the puzzle back am I lacking in motivation?

One. Simple. Word.

Community.

Dealing with the loss of community

Missing our community of friends feels both simple and complicated.

There are simple, obvious, straightforward ways that my son and I miss our community. I miss going to a new place that I don’t know how to navigate but my friend does. We simply miss other children. Toddlers love other toddlers. Their only criteria for instant friendship…you’re a toddler! Simple in that I find relief and gratitude knowing that another adult I trust is looking out for my child in the same way they would watch over theirs.

But a hug from another mom who has also started her day at 3 am to battle her admittedly opposed toddler? That’s now complicated. A hug is support, understanding, and comradery, without saying a word. That hug says, “I see you”, and “You’re doing great” and “This is hard” all at once. But, that hug is complicated in ways that I never imagined a hug could be complicated.

The mutual smile from a fellow mom who sees my kid run full speed down a hill with nothing but boots on somehow reinforces and validates everything I’ve done as a mom up to that moment. That smile holds no judgment. That smile is accepting and inclusive and makes the 2 hours I fought my kid to get here worth it. That smile is now hidden by a mask.

And what about that knowing in their eyes when my kid has a tantrum in the middle of the hike because I made the wrong pretend truck noise? It’s something only another parent of a toddler on that hike, at that moment can understand and it’s everything. It’s gone and I can’t believe how much I miss it.

Yes, I can (and do) go on hikes and mini-adventures with just my son. But, not having another parent there, if nothing else, to witness the insanity and total irrationality of raising a toddler leaves me feeling catastrophically alone.

Finding new ways to connect to your community

Dealing with the loss of climbing during pregnancy was hard in a way I wasn’t prepared for. I didn’t know how I was going to come back from that, especially with a new baby. But, over time, my son and I were able to find our own tiny and inclusive group of outdoor-loving families to lean on. They’ve supported us in more ways than I can describe.

During the pandemic, our in-person adventuring with our community has been put on hold for a bit. It’s been hard, so I’ve had to adapt. Now, I am finding new ways to be connected to our community and take care of ourselves during this uncertain time. Here are a few things we’ve been doing that help.

Adapt

My husband and I are primarily sport climbers, meaning we use ropes and quickdraws to secure ourselves to permanently placed draws while climbing. Bringing my son along requires at least one other adult to keep an eye on him while one of us climbs and the other belays. Since that’s not an option right now, we have switched gears to bouldering. To boulder, we only need a crash pad, shoes, and chalk.

We look for boulders that have flat landings so that our son can roam safely and so that whoever is climbing doesn’t necessarily need a spotter. This frees the other parent up to keep eyes on our son and helps to prepare all of us to re-enter, not just sport climbing communities, but bouldering communities as well, when this is all over.

Prepare for life after-COVID

As a climber and advocate for outdoor learning my ultimate goal is to get my son acclimated to the climbing life as much as possible in the hopes that he will fall in love with it too. To do that my husband and I have been taking our son climbing at least once a week. We show him how to pack a crash pad, how to spot boulders and of course how to relax like a climber, i.e. laid back, feet up, lots of snacks, and a little climbing. Our hope is that once life returns to normal, we’ll have our adventure buddy prepped and ready for the action.

Safe pods

As a family, we decided to extend our safety bubble to include one other family that we know and trust. They’ve been tested and are not in contact with anyone else. We still take certain precautions like not sharing snacks, only playing outside, and keeping our hands to ourselves. Though my son is an independent kid and comfortable on his own, I have found that seeing these friends every week or so has lifted his spirits.

Socially distant mom dates

A couple of my mom-friends and I meet every 3 or 4 weeks at an empty parking lot and sit in the back of cars, 6 feet apart. We get to see each other and talk about all things motherhood. It helps so much to just hear someone else’s experiences, how they are dealing with the virus, isolation, toddler meltdowns, and what they’re watching on Netflix!

Write and talk about it

Journaling is something I’ve always done to deal with stress. Whether it’s a physical notebook, an online document, a blog, or something in between, writing things down can help process thoughts and emotions. With so many virtual groups sharing and interacting with people, I’ve found that taking my journaling online has been the most helpful. Going one step further and talking about it with someone, on the phone, at a distance, text, or whatever is even better. Frustration and anger have very little power when said out loud.

We’re in this together

While this mom thing is unique and different for us all, we’re all in it together. And these times are uncertain and unprecedented for all of us. If you feel the same way I do about community and have any insight or advice to share, I’d love to hear it! Sharing our stories and experiences help us all process and know that we’re not alone. Our lives and communities may look different now, but if we can be there for each other, we’ll come out on the other side stronger.

How are you handling the loss of community?

About the author

Brenna Jeanneret is a writer who shares stories as an outdoor climbing mom. She writes about the messy and authentic intersection where adventure and parenthood collide. Check out her writing on her personal site at http://www.brennajeanneret.com. Or look for her new podcast The ReWild Mamas where she discusses adventure and motherhood.
FAMILY TRAVEL, INFORMATION, NATIONAL PARKS
Tips for a COVID-Safe Roadtrip with Kids
- June 29, 2020
Traveling looks much different right now than it looked last summer. With the COVID-19 pandemic still happening across our country (and the world), there are more restrictions on travel and lots of precautions and considerations that must be taken before leaving, along the way, and while you’re at your destination. Today, Nichole, a homeschooling mom of 2 and road-tripping expert, is here with some COVID-safe roadtrip health and safety precautions that families should consider in order to keep themselves and others safe.

Please note – any decisions to travel are highly personal and we encourage you to take note of the risks, do your research, consider your doctor’s advice, assess your family’s health and make your own informed choice. Do not travel if anyone in your family is sick or running a fever. The information shared here cannot guarantee anyone’s health or safety and is not meant to be divisive or comprehensive. Please do not travel through Indigenous communities at this time. This post contains affiliate links.

Making the decision to travel during a pandemic

Summer started months ago for many of us. Usually, by this time of year, the kids and I have been on the road for several extended trips already. As states began to reopen, we made the tough decision to drive from Arkansas to Arizona to surprise my Mom for her birthday. We hadn’t seen her in nine months and she lives two states away (one of those states is Texas). My husband and I talked for a week before we made a decision about the trip and it was not an easy decision to make. We decided to go with the idea that we’d be diligent, overly-cautious, and not take any unnecessary risks.

Road-tripping during a pandemic is a scary prospect, even more so to do it with children. There are a lot of things to consider and a lot of things we’d need to do differently for this trip. However, I found that by taking some protective measures, along with a few changes to our typical routine, we had a great COVID-safe roadtrip experience! Today, I’d like to share some of the steps I took to make our trip safe and successful.

Laying the plans and making tough decisions

I’ve made this drive at least five times already, but this time would be different. Normally, I am not one to stress over road trips, but if I’m being honest, this one made me worry. I approached our road trip planning (which is also a foreign concept to me as I rarely plan these shenanigans) with an overabundance of caution. We talked about all the options for overnights: camping versus hotels versus AirBnB‘s versus sleeping in the car.

After seeing if my kids and I could squeeze in the back of our Subaru Outback (not really), we decided against that option. I prefer more remote, dispersed camping, so public campgrounds with shared bathrooms were not an option for me during this trip. We don’t have an RV (though renting one may be a great solution!). After looking into the status of forest lands, I decided we would avoid them. Some lands are still closed within New Mexico and Arizona, and it is advisable to avoid Indigenous communities entirely due to the COVID outbreak. That left hotels and vacation rentals – both of which have their own issues and restrictions, but they were the best and safest option for us.

COVID-related safety precautions while roadtripping

Our final decision was to make the drive in two days rather than three, to minimize exposure. After careful research, our opinion was that hotels were probably the cleanest they’d ever been and I felt okay about staying in hotels. I picked a Drury Inn in our destination for day one (Albuquerque) and we left at home at 6 AM.

We are no strangers to long days in the car, but this one was different. Most of our favorite stopping points were either closed or not the best idea to visit. Palo Duro Canyon and Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas. The Blue Hole in Santa Rosa and Meow Wolf in Santa Fe. Not everything was closed – the Texas State Parks are open but require advance tickets purchased online and there are capacity limitations in place.

One of the great things about traveling out west (or anywhere) with a highly capable vehicle, is the ability to roll down unknown roads to find a breaking spot. We took several rest breaks along back roads and side roads. We avoided people and got the chance to experience some beautiful countryside.

COVID-related hotel safety precautions

After a long 13 hour day of driving, we finally pulled into a familiar Drury Inn (we’d stayed there two times before). I wasn’t sure what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised upon our arrival to find the hotel very quiet with hardly any cars in the parking lot. The check-in process was smooth, all the employees and guests wore masks (my children and I included; it was required in the lobby). I was impressed with their social distancing measures in place.

To minimize any exposures, I carried one backpack into our room with what we would need for the night, plus our electronics. I wiped down any surfaces we would touch and we all relaxed for a moment while I ordered Panera for pick up. The restaurant was in the parking lot for the hotel and was incredibly convenient. Our hotel room was impeccably clean and any blankets, throw pillows, or comforters had been removed from the room so the beds only had sheets and pillows. We found that staying in a hotel and getting food to go felt perfectly safe with the excessive protective measures in place.

Roadtripping pit stops during a pandemic

We left Albuquerque the next day at 5 AM (mainly because my kids wake up ridiculously early). I stopped at a Starbucks because I know they require employees to wear masks and gloves. A few hours down the road (and every cheesy photo op along the way) we made a stop on a random dirt road off the interstate. That turned out to be a great choice because my kids got out to run free, I made some more coffee and even got their bikes down for them to burn some energy off.

When we needed to stop for gas, we took extra precautions. When pumping gas, I used a paper towel as a barrier between my hand and the gas pump. I wiped my card down after inserting it into the card reader. I brought my own hand soap to use in the bathrooms and sanitized my hands immediately after getting gas or going inside. If we went inside a gas station, we all wore masks.

The bathroom situation…

There’s one question that I know you’re wondering about, so let’s just get it out there. Yes, we also used the bathroom there. No, I didn’t bring a toilet along. And yes, we adhered to Leave No Trace principles. Yes, that kind of bathroom stop too.

I planned for roadside bathroom breaks and brought along toilet paper and a disposable bag to put used toilet paper in and planned to throw away at our next gas stop. Public bathrooms don’t totally terrify me, but we found it faster and smoother (less exposure) to use back roads and side roads for this COVID-safe trip. Depending on where you’re traveling, this option isn’t always possible, but it made us feel safer.

Here are few roadside bathroom break tips:
- urinate on hard surfaces;
- dig cat-holes for number two;
- bring extra toilet paper and/or flushable wet wipes;
- bring a disposable bag to store any used toilet paper with you;
- if you need privacy, open both passenger doors and hide in between them;
- if you are traveling with younger children, bringing a small, portable toilet for the little ones to use.
National Parks are re-opening…slowly

We also stopped at Petrified Forest National Park along the way, thanks to our Annual Parks Pass. I researched ahead of time to make sure the park was open and read about any restrictions or cautions. There were not many crowds and nearly everyone wore masks at any potentially crowded stops. Luckily, we had nearly every stop to ourselves. Most people were really great about keeping distance and being respectful of space. It also felt good to get out and stretch for a while.

When visiting a national park this time of year, it’s important to go early, bring sun protection, and carry plenty of water. We hiked the relatively short Blue Mesa loop and enjoyed the views of the Painted Desert along the way. If you plan on visiting a national park (or any park) along your way, do your research. It’s imperative that you check websites ahead of time for closures or capacity limits. Some parks are requiring reservations via advance ticket purchases. Please be respectful and obey city/state guidelines, especially within Indigenous communities. To learn more about recreating responsibly, please take some time to read this guide.

Things to bring on a COVID-safe roadtrip

Before heading out, we added a few things to our packing list to make this a COVID-safe roadtrip. I realize that wearing masks is a contentious topic (we’re not here to debate this), but they are required for some states. I am a practiced sewist, and made masks for my family with pockets for medical-grade filters. You can order masks from many different outlets now, depending on what your preferences are. My “clean all the things” bag contained: two kinds of hand sanitizer, a hand sanitizer in spray format, antibacterial wipes, baby wipes, Lysol spray, and extra masks.

I also decided to pack our food for breakfast and lunch. Snacks, drinks and a cooler are all a must. I’m okay with ordering food to go, but thought that eating out only for dinner would minimize any risks. Coffee is a necessity for me when I’m doing these massive solo road trips, and our backpacking stove is a great tool for making coffee on the road. Paired with my JavaDrip, it’s a fairly quick and easy process.

I would also recommend a backpack to carry things into a hotel for an overnight stay. Choose one that large enough to hold things for the whole family, so you’re not taking in multiple suitcases. My kids were not allowed to bring their stuffed animals into the hotel just to minimize any exposures. For more about my solo travel safety tips (and my backpack system) check out THIS post.

COVID-safe roadtrip recommendations & tips

Wherever you’re going, read ahead and do your research! Now is not necessarily the time for spontaneity and winging it along the way. Call ahead, check websites, ask questions, get suggestions and make reservations. Campgrounds are filling up fast due to more people camping and utilizing RV travel. Some parks are open, some are not. All of these things can be researched before you go to minimize stress, inconvenience and confusion. Also, bear in mind that the guidelines for masks vary from city to city and state to state. Bring them and be prepared to wear them (or make alternative plans if you choose not to).

Before leaving the house, lay out a tentative route plan, but allow for flexibility. We noted two small towns along our way that were closed to outside visitors. Knowing this let us plan ahead for pit stops. One of my favorite things I’d highly recommend is cheesy photo ops along the way! Say yes to these! You may not be able to get into the museums or attractions, but you can grab some super fun photos to commemorate your journey. Most of these are free from people and you don’t have to touch anything. Plus, it’s a great way to get out and stretch your legs. Atlas Obscura is one of my favorite resources for finding these fun photo ops. Just remember to be respectful of private property and follow local rules and guidelines.

The payoff

The main (well, and only) reason we made this big trip was to surprise my Mom for her birthday. She had absolutely no idea we were coming and I sneaky planned it with the help of my stepdad. My husband wasn’t able to come along due to work commitments, but gave me his full support for this endeavor. We could barely contain our excitement, nor could we wait for 6:30 AM, the decided-upon time to surprise her.

I hauled cardboard boxes with us from home. I bet my parent’s neighbors were very curious as to why I was assembling boxes on the corner so early in the morning. We tiptoed our way down the street and my kids hid in the boxes on the front step. I rang the doorbell then hid around the corner. It was without a doubt the BEST surprise of my life! I’ll never forget the joy and happiness when my Mom realized it was my kids in those boxes. We. Missed. Our. Family. Friends, I know you do too. I encourage you to take the trip. Do so with caution, but not with fear. For some extra-happy goodness, check out the full surprise video HERE. 100% worth it.

COVID-safe roadtrip resources

For a full list of the things we brought along to make this trip safe- click HERE.

For a list of helpful things to entertain kids on long trips – click HERE.

Be sure to follow me on Instagram at coleyraeh to see all of our adventures and shenanigans, including the return trip home.

You can read more about our family on my website.

Thanks for reading friends, if you have any questions please feel free to message me on Instagram or send me an email.

About the author

Nichole is mama to two incredible adventurers, an older boy and a younger girl, and they are on their fifth year of homeschooling. She has been married to her best friend for nearly thirteen years and they share a mutual love for the outdoors. An Iowan native now living in the south, she is happy to claim Arkansas as home. She is a wanderlust (and coffee) fueled, fearless, road-tripper who has been known to take off for epic adventures at a moment’s notice. Hiking and camping (of the backpacking variety) and crystal digging are a few of their favorite family activities. You can usually find her in the woods somewhere (probably up a creek and jumping off waterfalls), or on an epic road-tripping adventure with the kids.

You can find Nichole online in the following locations:
Website: http://www.luckeywanderers.com
Instagram: @coleyraeh
RWMC posts: Nichole
INFORMATION, MCFAMILY
Reflections on Quarantine
- May 29, 2020
While the pandemic has affected us all differently, it’s affected us ALL in some way. We’re more than two months into the thick of things here in the US and some stay home orders are finally starting to be lifted. While things sometimes feel like they’re trying to get back to normal, there’s still so much unknown about what’s to come. One of the things that’s helped me through some of these difficult times is reading about how other moms are doing and handling the situation. A few members of the Run Wild My Child Creative Team took some time to write down their reflections on quarantine and documented the good and the bad about their COVID-19 experiences thus far and how the pandemic has affected their homes, heads, and hearts.

Leslie

@c_l_allofus

When the Covid-19 threat first became real here in Ohio, things shut down with astounding speed. Our heads were spinning with the new information coming out daily, the threat of how this would impact our families and communities, and the frustrations of major restrictions. From the outside, though, it didn’t seem to change our lives that much. I’m a homeschooling mom to four kids. My husband works in an essential job. Our daily schedule remained much the same, and we realize how blessed we have been. Even so, the increasing closures and restrictions made an impact. Art and music lessons were canceled. The libraries closed. Our church moved all services online. We couldn’t get together with friends and family. Even grocery shopping became a challenge. And, thanks to the weather, outdoor adventures (my favorite way to have fun with my kids) were more of an ordeal than a fun outing. After a long and cold winter, our Ohio spring remained cold, wet, and windy. In fact, if you had told me at the beginning of the quarantine that it was going to snow clear through Mother’s Day weekend, I might have crawled under my bed covers and not come out until Memorial Day!

But despite the challenges, I have so many things to be thankful for during this quarantine. We’ve spent even more time than usual together as a family—and as you all know, that comes with both challenges and blessings. But without anyone else to turn to, my children have become better friends with each other. All our needs have been met, and I know that isn’t the case for everyone during this time. And even though the weather hasn’t been ideal, we have repeatedly turned to the great outdoors for adventure, excitement, and fun. Right before the pandemic hit, we moved into a rural farming area and we’ve been thankful for that every single day. We haven’t had to fight through park closures or social distancing for outdoor time, because we can step outside our door and wander through woods and fields and up and down our quiet country road. And we have…every single day. When the monotony of life within the walls of our house feels overwhelming, we’ve gone outside to explore. When winter has felt never-ending, we have searched the fields and woods for those sure signs of spring. And when our indoor entertainment has run out, we’ve gone outdoors and found endless new things to play and enjoy.

Nichole

@coleyraeh

The bad. It’s been a long two months. My daughter turned six almost RIGHT before the Covid-19 pandemic hit American soil. We were lucky to have her birthday party with friends the first week of March. That next week we made the decision as a family to self-isolate. My husband worked from home for one month, but then had to return to work. Nearing the end of two months at home, and we are feeling it. Workouts are interrupted with requests for snacks, writing sessions are at best, sporadic. Though we are a homeschooling family, we rarely stay home. In fact, I think the hallmarks of our homeschool are our field trips and shenanigans. Typically we are done with school at the end of April and we spend May visiting my Mom and Step-Dad in Phoenix, using their home as a base for farther explorations. Staying home hurts. Our family is so far from us and we miss them dearly.

Without the road trips, day trips, and shenanigans to seek out I’ve found myself slipping into the grips of Mom guilt daily. I’ve been shorter with my fuse and sharper with my words, stemming from all this togetherness without an outlet. My typical routes of self-care are no longer accessible and alone time is a precious commodity that looks like sitting in my car in a parking lot with a latte from home. (which is actually just left over coffee mixed with chocolate oat milk). Anxieties have reared up from where they were buried and at night when I’m trying to sleep, perceived failures and shortcomings intermix to keep my brain firing. I feel like I’m drowning. But then, when I’ve taken a moment to pause, I realize that my kids are standing in that water I think I’m drowning in. They are fine. They are thriving. And what they most need right now is our family. And we are right here.

The good. I have never been so grateful and appreciative of our home. I’ve never been more aware of how absolutely privileged we are as a family. My husband had the ability to work from home for a while. He has a job to continue working steadily, and regularly brings our groceries home after work. Our fridge hasn’t been bare and our bellies have been full. Our back porch has become a sacred space. Our children rediscovered how much fun our backyard can be. We do not live in a major metropolitan area that has been hard hit. As a family, we our weekends were typical non-stop adventuring, staying home all weekend had been a rarity for us. So, this time of turning inwards has been a blessing for us. No nightly tennis practice, no gymnastics, no running for the next activity. My husband and I, and our kids, chose to invest that energy into our garden. It’s a space that brings me so much joy and is a source of peace in the daily grind. This year, prior to the pandemic, we added four more raised beds. I threw myself into planting them. Then we added huge barrel planters for giant dahlia blooms. Then (thanks to Instagram) I got an idea for an arch. My husband made that happen, but he went above and beyond anything I could have imagined.

This summer, we won’t be traveling like we used to, but we will have the most amazing arch tunnel, that you can walk under. It will be filled with morning glories, luffa plants, cucumbers, mini pumpkins and mini squash, sour gherkin cucumbers, nasturtiums, and whatever else I planted on it that I forgot about. Last weekend, we added a potting bench (built by my husband). We have delighted in picking fresh produce for our meals almost every day for the past two months. (We live in zone 8, so gardening starts in February). My kids enjoy our mornings outside and I enjoy my nightly garden stroll with my husband to show him what grew that day. Just yesterday, I was showing him the sunflowers that are starting to bloom. It’s been an excellent exercise in patience and presence. (#coleyraegardens). Our schooling may have been sporadic during this time, but we have read some wonderful stories, had more family dinners than ever before, played more board games, laughed together at Dude Perfect videos on YouTube, and enjoyed the gift of this slowed down time.

Sara

@sara_mccarty

The bad – I first became aware of just how scary and devastating this pandemic could be while at work, listening to doctors, actuaries, and experts come up with a plan for social distancing. Things escalated faster than I ever could have imagined and only days later, we were officially home and self-quarantining (my daughter has a heart condition, so we took it seriously). We were working from home (two lawyers), schooling from home (2 school-aged kids + 2 year-old), and living socially distant from our friends and family. It was incredibly heartbreaking to drive down the street and see stores and restaurants closed. Friends started to get laid off; many had to close their businesses. The stock market continued to drop. The panic buying set in, the statistics got worse, the fear surmounted. Everything felt so overwhelming and scary. The kids missed their friends. We were overwhelmed with screen time and schoolwork. Nothing was getting done, the laundry piled up, the house was a wreck, there were so many meals and chores and snacks and Zoom calls. I was taking care of kids all day then working until 2:0o am every night and I still couldn’t keep up. Overwhelm set in and I lost it.

I’ve been surprised by the sheer volume of how much and deeply I felt. Somedays, within minutes I could go from being so incredibly sad, scared, stressed, and helpless to bursting with love, joy, pride and gratitude for my little family. I’d throw myself a pity party about how hard this all is and then I’d consider how much harder it is for so many people and how lucky we are. Then I’d feel guilty about feeling bad in the first place. It’s been so confusing. Are we overreacting? If we let up, could I ever forgive myself if something happened? What really would happen? How long will this last? There’s so much to think about. My temper’s been short, my stress level through the roof. After full days with my kids all over me, the introvert in me wanted to scream and hide in a closet. Never (not even while pregnant) have I felt so emotional and exhausted. I withdrew from everything and it took me weeks to (very slowly and deliberately) get back into a headspace where I felt like I could function again. That’s so not like me and very unnerving. It’s left me very worried about what’s to come and if this will happen again.

The good – Never in my life have I been more aware of how incredibly privileged, lucky, and blessed we are. The pandemic has made me fully aware of how much we’ve taken for granted and how grateful we need to be every day. We have a home that’s comfortable, a fridge that’s full, bodies that are healthy, and opportunities just a click away. Friends and neighbors have gone above and beyond with birthday parades, organizing virtual events and dropping off goodies like freshly baked pretzels, homemade jam and booze. After a few stressful weeks, I kicked my guilt to the curb and decided that homeschooling on a screen was just not going to work for our family. We found other ways to learn inside and out and it made it huge difference in our attitudes letting that go. Work’s been busy, but flexible enough that we can get out and do things together as a family. Ryan and I make a great team and work together so we can each get things done. We’re lucky to have friends with private land nearby so we can explore outdoors all day and never encounter another person. We’ve been camping, floating, fishing, hiking, and spending countless hours in our own backyard.

We eventually hired help (a college girl home for the summer) to take the kids on socially distant outdoor adventures during the day so my husband and I could work (necessary to keep our full-time jobs – we know how lucky we are for our paychecks). My kids have spent nearly every day of the last two months in a creek, on a trail or by a lake and it’s been incredible for them. While they still fight constantly, I think they’re also closer than ever before and they’re thriving on all the time they get to spend outside and with us. Being outside has made a world of difference to us all and really solidified my passion for helping other families get outdoors together. I love being home and (while I don’t want to be here forever) I’ve truly enjoyed having dinner together as a family every night, doing house projects with my husband, adventuring with the kids and all the time together we’ve been blessed with.

Jemma

@thimbleandtwig

Lockdown for us has been a mixed bag. I feel blessed to have extra time with the kids and to spend loads of time together as a family. We’ve done some fabulous crafts, had a garden campout, toasted marshmallows, and played board games. There have been some days that have been truly lovely. I’ve adored watching the kids develop a lovely bond and play more together – I’m so thankful we have 4 kids – they have entertained each other!

However, the juggle has been oh so real and a struggle! Trying to work (teaching live lessons as a secondary school teacher or leading training whilst my husband takes a work call) has been super stressful. There have been days where I feel sad that the kids bickering and me as an impatient mum have dominated the day. It’s also been hard that the kids have missed out on seeing their friends and grandparents. My daughter was in the last year of primary so she won’t get to say goodbye to her friends, won’t have the leavers parties, and end of school play. Both my son starts school and my daughter starts secondary and they won’t have a transition period. Other things have been tricky – friends have had their babies and I won’t be able to meet them until this time is over. Parties and anniversaries have been missed…my 100k overnight walk with friends was canceled.

But we’re thankful. We’re all healthy happy and safe – we’re intrigued how we’ll navigate the next period – longing for life to return to normal. I am worried about how the next part of the journey goes. Will our children grow up fearful of others? Will we always be crossing the road when someone walks too close? Will we turn into a germ-centric generation? Lockdown leaves all these feelings and although I know we’re so, so lucky – it’s still hard to think about how we’ll all be touched by this crazy period of time.

Ginny

@1000hoursoutside

Sometimes I wonder “What if?” What if we would’ve known ahead of time? How would we have prepared? But the fact that we couldn’t prepare in advance forced our family to be creative and to learn new things.

Just under a year ago we moved to a small hobby farm. Knowing nothing about farming, we figured we would ease into it. Coronavirus moved up our timeframe considerably. Having a little bit of land allows us to contribute to our local food system and since we were stuck home anyway we decided to go all in. We went from knowing nada to owning goats, chickens, turkeys, pigs, guineas, and barn carts in the matter of a few months. The cows come this weekend. One of our goats gave birth to twins in March and so we’ve added milking to our daily routine. Teats and udders are now a part of our daily vernacular. And of course, we set up a makeshift garden and are attempting to grow all sorts of things we’ve never grown before. All that to say, our family has learned an unbelievable amount in the last 10 weeks and I consider that a plus! Combine endless time at home with empty grocery store shelves and I transformed into “Farmer Ginny” :).

One thing I’ve struggled with (and there have been many) was finding a new footing. I think we all settle into a routine that has a balance of inhales and exhales. These last 10 weeks have been extremely demanding as lots of plates have been added but without the regular things we do to relieve stress, like hiking with friends. Socially, emotionally, and physically the demands on mama skyrocketed and I didn’t rise to the occasion as much as I would’ve hoped. Overwhelmed and consumed with the news media, I took four weeks off of our seat work for school. I struggled with depression despite knowing that mostly we were okay. We are finally starting to come around but it’s taken a long time.

Tiffany

@dear.wildlings

The good. What a time to be alive am I right? The circumstances leading up to the stay-home orders have tremendously affected everyone’s lives including ours, homebody Homeschoolers. While there have been challenging moments I can honestly say that this time at home has been and will remain one of my fondest memories of my children’s childhood for the following reasons. Time. Oh, bittersweet time. Our days were often filled with at least one errand or obligation we had to be at and with the stay-home order, they cease to exist leaving me with my children, distraction-free. Our conversations were enriched and I felt a sense of slow normalcy I have never felt before. I didn’t pay attention to what time it was and something about the constant slow days made me appreciate my time interacting with my children without the hustle and bustle of life even more. We all ate at the table every night together. I can’t say how much this has changed our lives.

As a photographer, there are many nights that I am not home in time for dinner as I am chasing the sunlight and I miss that time. Lots of nights were wrapped up with mom grabbing something on the way home and dinners were rushed so we could keep our normal bedtime routine. Being home allowed me to cook (more than I ever have before) and enjoy dinner time with my children every single night, never missing a beat or moment or conversation I otherwise would have missed. It gave me more time with my children, my husband, and even myself.

The bad. Negatively I would say that the hardest struggle any of us went through were the days we needed a change of scenery. We highly missed our outings to lunch, spur of the moment out of town day trips, book store, and coffee shop mornings…and just having the option of getting out of the house especially with how much it rained his spring season. You can only expect kids to be stimulated at home so much when suck inside. I think those are the days I struggled and the kids struggled too. I think I personally struggled too with my lack of working, being a photographer – I missed creating. This mentally made me feel worthless some days as a high functioning creative – it made me feel a bit in a rut. However, I did my very best to challenge myself in other ways creatively and come up with new ideas on how to create income. However, I would do it all again if we had to and have learned through this experience that its okay to have slow days and ignore the “real world”. I don’t want that to ever change or “go back.” The good completely outweighed the bad.

We’d love to hear how your family is doing through all this.
Drop us a comment and let us know.
GEOCACHING, INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, PRINTABLES, SPRING, URBAN NATURE
10 Outdoor Social Distancing Activities for Kids in a City
- March 19, 2020
With social distancing firmly in place and schools being closed for the foreseeable future, parents all across the country are trying to figure out what to do with your kids. While it’s probably no surprise to anyone reading this website, we HIGHLY recommend getting outside and into nature with your kids. But only if that’s a safe and viable option. If you have access to the great outdoors and time to spend, by all means, we hope you take advantage of it.

However, outdoor social distancing may not be easy for everyone. Particularly those who live in a city and may not have close access to wide open (and remote/unpopulated areas). However, there are still things you can do outside as a family that keep your distance from others and give your kids the chance to burn off some of that energy. Today, we have Desirée Macke, Southern California mom of 2 here sharing 10 ways to get outside while being socially distant in a city.

An unexpected turn of events

This spring was supposed to be full of travel and adventure for our family. However, in the blink of an eye, like the rest of the country, our plans were quickly thwarted due to COVID-19. When schools were canceled for multiple weeks I quickly went to work planning where we could go exploring with the kids. Joshua Tree National Park immediately popped into mind. It’s one of our favorite places. I had full intentions of loading the kids up to go rock climbing to get away from it all. Then, things regarding health and safety escalated and our plans were set aside.

Social distancing in a city

For a moment I went into panic mode. How in the world were we going to get the kids outside while social distancing in a huge city? All the places we enjoy going (National Parks, the beach, local parks, etc.) are always full of people. It’s not like we can simply turn to our backyard…we don’t have one! We live in a townhome. Right now, for many people in urban areas, getting outside while being safe can be a bit challenging, particularly because we all like to go outside to the same places.

I took a deep breath, looked at what we do have at our disposal. I put together a list of 10 outdoor social distancing activities for kids and families in cities so that you can still get outside all while staying safe and active.

1. Geocaching

A while back we covered the basics of geocaching. Our kids don’t get much screen time, so geocaching is really fun and exciting for my kids. When I hand over the phone to my son so he can follow the map, read the clues, and search for geocaches, it’s a really big deal. We’ve found several caches in our neighborhood while out for a walk. There are many more near us that we’ll be hunting down in the next few weeks. We’ll have plenty of time to do so!

2. Agents of Discovery app

This may be pretty specific to Southern California, but, there are a LOT of people here, so I hope I’m reaching someone who is searching for things to do with kids! While visiting a local nature center/trail we enjoy hiking, we discovered there is an interactive app that is great for kids to utilize while hiking. Along the trail, there are multiple challenges the kids complete to earn points.

I’ll be the first to admit that sometimes my kids lose interest in our hikes very quickly. However, this app keeps my kids engaged while on the trail. Bonus points: the whole family learned a copious amount of information on the flora and fauna in our area. Now my son wants to visit all the trails included on the app. It’s beeen a great outdoor social distancing activity for my kids to keep them active and entertained.

During this time, please use your best judgment on whether being out on the trials is smart and safe for you, and those you may encounter on the trail.

3. iNaturalist app

I promise this is the last tech/screen suggestion. But, this is one of my favorite apps because it can be used anywhere! Since we’re stuck around the house, we’ve been taking many walks around our neighborhood. I’ve learned over the years that the kids need a goal on our walks to keep them occupied and entertained. Otherwise just walking around can get pretty boring for them.

During our walks, I ask them to find plants, flowers, even animals, that they don’t know the names of. We then turn to iNaturalist, snap a photo of said plant/animal. The app then pulls up a list of items that are likely to be what we have discovered, and we select the answer that best fits what we have found. It’s been really neat to learn together what we have right here in our little neighborhood. Using an app like this to learn and document our adventures has been a really fun and educational outdoor social distancing activity for the kids.

4. Scavenger hunt

Anyone can do a scavenger hunt! Anywhere! Trust me, they’re super easy to put together and really fun for the kids! It only takes a few minutes of planning. I usually compile a quick list of easy-to-find items just before we head out the door. You can write them all down on a piece of paper, in your phone or keep a tally in your head. Tell the kids what they’re looking for and let them explore! Once the kids find all the items on their list they earn a prize (which is usually just something from our pantry).

The great thing about scavenger hunts is that you can completely customize them to your specific location and to your children’s ages and skill level. I will often make two different lists. For my son, I’ll ask for specific things, such as, “find a maple leaf”. For my youngest, I keep it pretty basic for her, “find a yellow leaf”.

5. Nature bingo

Much like the scavenger hunt and iNaturalist, we utilize nature bingo while we’re on our morning walks. This is a great and easy outdoor social distancing activity for kids. Each child has a BINGO card filled with plants, flowers, and animals we typically see in our neighborhood. The game is a great way to keep the kids moving along our sidewalks with little to no complaining, and a goal to reach. They get pretty excited when they hit a BINGO, and I get excited that we’ve clocked more hours outside.

Above is a blank Bingo printable you can print off and fill in as you go.

6. DIY sidewalk chalk paint

You’ve probably seen this fun and easy craft idea, but it’s worth repeating because the kids love it. I’m not sure what they enjoy more, the making of the paint, or the actual painting. Either way, it keeps them busy, entertained, and outside.

Here’s what you’ll need to make your own sidewalk chalk paint:
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 cup corn starch
- Food dye colors of your choice
- Muffin tin
- Mixing bowl
- Whisk
- Paintbrushes
In your mixing bowl add the warm water and corn starch. Whisk until cornstarch is dissolved. Pour your mixture in equal parts into the muffin tin. Add food dyes. Let the kids grab a paintbrush and go to work!

We are fortunate to have a patio, so the kids generally head out there to paint the pavers. But if we’re feeling extra adventurous we’ll paint the sidewalks around our front door.

7. Obstacle courses

We are lucky to have an alley that serves as our makeshift back yard. When the kids get tired of just riding up and down the alley on their bikes/scooters/etc. we’ll make an obstacle course. Getting the kids in on the creation of the course makes it that much more fun. Seeing their minds work to put together their course is just as much fun as watching them navigate the course. We use whatever we can find in our garage: jump ropes, plyo boxes, sidewalk chalk for the start and finish line, anything we can pull out!

I know not everyone has an alley, but many obstacle courses can be created in parks that have large green space! Think cones and hula hoops! Again, please use discretion during this time when visiting your parks.

8. Slackline

We may not have a yard or huge trees. However, we DO have a garage. That space has been maximized to the fullest. We purchased the kids a slackline and have it set up in the garage! We have it hung high, with different ropes and rings hanging from the line. The kids like to pretend they are Ninja Warriors, and monkey across it, aiming for the best time, or simply making it across without falling. If you don’t have a garage, check out parks with open spaces and large trees. It’s been a fun alternative to the monkey bars and traditional playground equipment we’re used to, but trying to avoid.

9. Leaf confetti

We mentioned making leaf confetti in our 100+ Outdoor Winter Activities for Kids, but it is worth mentioning here, and applies any time of the year! And, this project has been our saving grace on those afternoons where we’re starting to get the wiggles and need an activity. This one engages our gross motor skills (walking around our neighborhood), fine motor skills (paper punching), and eye-hand coordination.

As we walk around our neighborhood the kids collect leaves they deem worthy of paper punching. Once we’ve gathered a hefty amount, we head home and start punching away. The different shaped punchers give the confetti a little more of a whimsical feel, but any shape will do. After a large amount of confetti is made the most fun is tossing it in the air!

10. Puddle jumping

More often than not, my kids are in school when it rains, so many puddle opportunities have slipped by us. However, during our time social distancing, we have had several days where it has rained. We could view this as doomy and gloomy. But, instead, we have taken advantage of all the puddles! All we need our rainboots and rain jackets, and we go. to. town. on every puddle we find. The kids always have so much fun splashing away, and this activity is perfect to get outside, as most people opt to stay indoors when it rains.

During this incredibly crazy and uncertain time, one thing holds true. We all need to get outside for our health and sanity.

If you live in an urban area, what are some of your favorite outdoor social distancing activities for kids?

About the author

I’m Desirée; wife to Scott, mom to Marcus and Julia. I’m the domestic engineer (that’s my fancy term for stay-at-home-mom) of the family. My husband, kids, and I love the outdoors. Our favorite ways to explore are hiking the coastal trails near us as well as combing the tide pools for aquatic treasures. To quench our thirst for wide-open spaces beyond the hustle and bustle of our urban jungle. We love to visit state and national parks, as well as conservation areas and nature preserves.

You can find Desirée online in the following locations:
Personal IG: @desireemacke
Cookie Biz IG: @coolingrackconfections