The Art of Packing

I was reflecting  on packing as we finished our latest adventure in the Rockies.  Packing light is a tenet of the Adventurers' Club and we've trained our kids on that from an early age.  They also pack themselves. Ironically I found that when I packed for kids I always took too much stuff, now we go much lighter.  I'm not sure I'll ever be as good at this as my brother and his wife who aspire to travel with all 5 of their young children with only carry-ons, but I have figured out what works for us.

The night before a trip, we pull out the suitcase and I let them know how much of each item to bring, " one sweater, 2 warm pants, 5 underwear...".  Emily and Michael love doing this and get to decide what they want to take with them.  The kids also each have a small backpack. They know they can only fill it half way and can't bring liquids or toy guns ( we had a close call once with soapy bath water packed in 'test tubes' as magic potion).  Typically the kids are so excited they start packing their backpacks a few days before we go and empty and refill them a dozen times, switching out toys and stuffed animals. It's  very amusing to watch.  The other hard fast packing rule is that they have to carry their backpacks themselves - the whole trip.  Sure they had their moments when they were younger, and I held their backpacks threateningly over the airport trash can, but they are pros now. Travelling as a family when everybody chips in makes for a far easier trip.

On the way home, we fill a garbage bag with all our dirty clothes, stick it in a suitcase and dump it straight in the laundry room when we get home....where it languishes for a while.  And those half empty backpacks? They are always full on the way back - typically with rocks, brochures they've collected and a souvenir or two.

 

Risk Defined

Risk- it means so many different things to so many people but judging from my daughter's report cards, that's not always clear.  Ever since Emily has been at school, she has always gotten a big X in the Unsatisfactory box for " takes appropriate risks". When speaking to her teachers, they point to things such as not talking when in the limelight ( standing in front of the class ) and things of that nature.  I don't deny Emily does this, and that's the side of her the teachers see, but I don't think in the grand scheme of life that this is the only meaningful measure of risk a person can take.

The infamous Bowl

Social risk is one thing, but physical risk and mental risk are another, and they're underrated.  The other week my 9 year old daughter pushed herself to ski the bowl at Big Sky Montana, a black diamond run. She even picked a steep line that my husband said made him a little nervous.  Emily was determined and took that risk; it was her goal to ski the bowl and she did it....and she felt great as a result.  So, does my daughter 'melt' when in the limelight in a social setting? Yes, although she does get better with age. Will she keep getting that big fat X on her report card? Probably.  So be it. But does she take risks in many other aspects of her life? Absolutely, and that's a heck of a start to leading a happy and fulfilling life.