Joy in a Walk

Every woman has her hero.  Some women admire women that juggle work and home, others admire the beautiful wife with the beautiful house, still others admire the ultimate gritty homemaker who sews and bakes and cans and budgets.  Well, my mom hero is the lady that walks all her kids (5 ish) to school every day come rain or shine (or snow or wind).  She pushes that stroller up hill with kids hanging all over it even in bad weather, and I am awe that she just didn’t bail and get in the car.

Although I am not as hard core as this mom, I do love to walk my kids to school a few times a week when they are in Preschool and Kindergarten.

I have been able to walk/bike my little ones to school for 5 years now, and I actually feel joy as we walk together.  As we spot lizards and ants and bees and odd shaped rocks.  As we wave to neighbors and pass landmarks that suggest we are getting closer.  As I watch Croft build up endurance and skill on her scooter and bike.  As we talk about the weather and the trees and the kids in class. There is joy.

I love walking/biking to school together because it

a. gets us outdoors

b. gets us moving

c. gives us time to talk

d. gives me time to teach about biking and walking safety

e. and it’s thrifty!

I would say “I don’t know why I don’t do it more often”,  but I do know.  As a society in general we don’t have our kids walk as much as we used to because

a. We are scared or worried about their safety- Roads are busier and there are more creepos in the world.

b. We are too busy-  It is much faster to just drop them off on a way to an errand or an appointment.

c. We are lazy- And our kids are too; my kids have been walking home for years now and they still complain about it.

d. We are in a hurry- There ain’t nothing fast about a 5 year old walking to school.  They get tired or distracted or chatty. You have to carve out time in the day to make the trek.

Because I am all of the above, I had to schedule walking/biking days with Croft this year so that I wouldn’t let my joy get swallowed up in my excuses.  We are only going 2 days a week right now due to Locke’s preschool situation, but 2 days are better than none.  And I am going to soak up the joy while I still have the chance.

Now I know it is not feasible for everyone to walk/bike to school every day like my hero, (one day I am going to pull over and tell this stranger how awesome I think she is), but maybe we could walk just a little more-  to piano lessons or a friend’s house or to  church or work.

Maybe we could be in the car a little less and feel a little more joy.