I love my back to nature, just me and the wild, working up a good sweat, outdoors time.  I’ve always seen it as ‘my’ time, alone time – something that I do to get away from it all.  As I adjusted to city life, my pilgrimages to the unspoiled became even more treasured to me.  Then, along came my son.  Then the other.  Like every other facet of my life, parenthood has changed my outdoors routine.

Now, if I want to go for a bike ride, it’s, “Daddy, can I come?”  If I want to get away from it all, part of “it all” comes with me.  Maybe I have overmuch of a soft spot for my sons, but I just can’t say no to such a request.  So, instead of a challenging four mile ride, it’s a slow, level one mile.  Instead of a silent commune with nature, it’s a noisy nature lesson.

Hiking has become walking.  Canoeing has become fodder for “America’s Funniest Videos”.  A healthy enjoyment of outdoor activities is something to be shared and passed down from generation to generation.  To my way of thinking, leaving them out of my routine would undermine the importance and lead them to grow up to be city boys, or worse, couch potatoes.

No, I can’t have that.  So, along they come – spilling my canteen, scaring away the animals, tipping the canoe. I still slip away by myself on rare occasion, but those opportunities don’t present themselves very often.  The funny thing is that despite all my reservations this is even better than my ‘alone’ time ever was.  I don’t miss the solitude one bit.

Sometimes, a good thing is just better when you share it with those you love.

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