Outdoor Picture Deluge

Shane and I like to go outside.

If I'm honest, he likes it more than me, but I'm happy to oblige. I think it's incredibly important that Shane grows up unafraid of nature.

At my first teaching job, I worked with expelled and troubled youths. Many of them thought (or posed) like they were tough and unafraid of anything and anyone.

And then there was a spider on the desk.

I've never seen so many kids so bent on challenging me panic all at once. 

I walked over and took a glance. I figured it had to be a brown recluse, a black widow, or something crazy looking.

Nope. It wasn't even bigger than a dime. 

Squish.

The students were aghast. They squirmed. The fact that I hadn't grabbed a tissue or a paper further freaked them out. I would have if there was one near by, but I was more concerned with moving on. I had to wash my hand before their eyes stopped tracking it. 

That wasn't the last bug I dealt with either. Some of the teachers I worked with where anti-squishing, so I often had to catch and release. If I tried to show the kids on the way out there was always a mix of interest, revulsion, fear, and plain ignorance. 

Most of the kids spent all of their time indoors, on streets, or in stores. They walked the concrete jungle and didn't know diddly about the real jungle. The same is true for many of the middle schoolers I teach now. I was shocked when I realized most don't know the street names or even what's around their house. They sit inside all day and/or don't travel far. I don't know if it's from all the electronics, or their parents reading the news on their electronics.

I don't want that for Shane.

I'm not a huge nature person, but I remember the joy of really looking up close at a bug or scaling a tree as a child. There's a ton of neat things to learn out there....and I can learn them, too!

When the weather's nice, Shane and I wander. 

If I get bored while he's blowing on the 15th dandelion I take pictures! Then I post them online. Here!

Shane loves dandelions. I try to get him to only blow them towards the street and avoid yards where people clearly spend too much time.

Shane explained and acted out where the tree formerly attached to the tree stump went for me. 

And then we found a bigger tree stump. Oh, the shock and awe!

It wasn't very comfortable.

The cacti in front of the rock you can't see did worry me. The owner was getting in his truck and laughed.

We spent 15 minutes in front of a random house building volcanoes out of dirt one day. I tried to draw letters and mix it up some, but nothing took. Shane got offended if anyone pushed a stroller or rode a bike through his masterpiece.

Shane poked the anthill with his finger until I handed him a stick. What a novice!

Random bench? Random child.