Fatherhood Stories: Brian Anderson, dad of two
A Curious Thing Happened on a Freezing Hike in the Woods
Do you ever stop to appreciate the wonders around you?
I’m sure we all want to say yes to this, but most of us get wrapped up in our daily lives and forget all the tiny wonders that exist. When we have successful routines and systems that lead to daily wins and completed projects, why bother to stop, reflect or question their effectiveness, right? On a recent hike with my kids and a few friends, I was reminder that sometimes unexpected surprises lead to bigger successes than planned activities. Because sometimes, stuff happens.
We met up with some friends for a planned hike. We prepped with extra winter gear, snacks, and mapped the trail to ensure maximum enjoyment for all. Then, halfway through, we spied a pond that had frozen over. So of course, we took advantage of it.
Within minutes, the kids were enraptured by the bubbles in the ice. An impromptu science lesson ensued followed by the kids searching for the biggest bubble. What was meant to be a 30 minute hike turned into a 2-hour adventure.
The drive home was filled with questions and more curiosity. How did the bubbles form again? Why were there so many? What else could be frozen in the ice? How did the fish not get trapped?
Their questions were endless and my ability to answer them without the help of google definitely got strained. I wouldn’t change it for the world.
While the hike created new learning opportunities for my daughters, it created opportunities for me too. At the conclusion of 2021, I was going 1000 miles a minute to raise funds, implement strategies for 2022, and ensure Fathering Together keeps growing. In the process, I forgot the most important part of fatherhood… to keep learning.
If we fail to learn, if we fail to keep growing, we won’t be able to meet the demands of our kids. They minds are starving for information. They consume information at an ever expanding rate and that isn’t even taking into account the massive amount of data available to them online compared to our childhoods.
As I begin 2022, I’m focusing decelerating to ensure that I have space for new growth and new opportunities to learn. I could have stuck my kids in front of a screen while I answered emails and wrote up a report. I could have even justified it by making them watch a documentary. But the emails weren’t as critical as fresh air, experiencing the wonders of nature, and laughing as we all slipped around the pond.
So how do you appreciate the wonder around you? How do you cultivate a learning mindset so that you and your children grow together?