Sunday, March 22, 2009

a new view


The hubs was in A-town this weekend helping his BFF do wild and crazy things like haul dirt and work cows, which means Coop and I were left to fill the weekend with some mommy-and-me time.

I must confess, I both love and loathe these times.

Love them because it’s the perfect excuse to do those things you’re not “supposed” to do: like have Dippin’ Dots for lunch, skip bath time, watch entirely too much Elmo … all of which Coop adores (I swear, Elmo is like crack for babies).

Loathe because, though we’ve been a part of each other’s lives for 14 years, I’m always a bit heartsick when Chris is away … more now since we’ve become parents than I ever did when it was just the two of us. I always feel like he’s missing out on some magic memory that Coop and I create together. But, I guess at the same time, it makes it uber-special for me and my little guy, each parent needs those “just you and me” moments.

And yesterday was an amazing one.

Ask anyone who knew me when I was kid and they’d tell you I was the most precocious, dirt-fearing little priss who preferred books to anything outdoors (unlike my hellion of a little sister). Now, an older, wiser mom to her own little hellion, umm, not a lot has changed. ;)

But, I’m making progress.

Yesterday Coop and I went to the Arbor Hills Nature Preserve in Plano (freakin’ love it!). We used to go all the time, but haven’t been able to make it out since we moved. So, as we pulled into the parking lot on Saturday afternoon, I was just as excited as Coop. We tackled the tot-size playground and then, sans stroller (this was a first!), we hit the trails.

Coop had me chasing him under fences, through brush and after dogs (lots and lots of dogs). I, in my $5 Old Navy flip flops, wasn’t much of a match for the wild man …but, then we hit the water. There are lots of creeks running through the preserve and last year, Chris took a pic of me and Coop (see below) on “the edge” of one of them (too chicken to go in … um, eeww).



But, now that Coop is pushing 2 … well, you know what they say, you can lead a toddler to water, but you can’t make him stay out of it. ;) Complete in his socks and shoes and my jeans tugging beneath my flops, we tromped and splashed and climbed our way through the streams.



It. Was. Awesome.

Coop got a little “too brave” at times … his balance isn’t quite up to navigating sudden drop offs and extra-large rocks hidden amongst the pebble beds, but he loved it. And, this dirt-loathing mama did, too.



When we climbed our way outta’ the stream, we were soaked and squishy and covered in mud, but it was one of the best afternoons I’ve ever had with my little guy.

I can’t wait to take him back. (Although, I’ll be rethinking my footwear.)



It’s so important that we, as parents, teach our children and lead them down the right path, but, every so often it’s even more important to let them take the reigns. It’s amazing how the view of the world changes when you’re crouching in a creek bed …

1 comment:

mimipam said...

I am SOOOOO proud of you lil prissy pants--way to let go and go with the moment--you are growing up so FAST!!!!! ha ha loveyoumimi