Hiking and Parenthood

Since we began this blog, we’ve been keeping a list of “Truths About Hiking With Baby,” hoping to compile them into a post of their own at some point.  However, when we got a whole list together, we realized that these Truths are also applicable to Parenthood in general.  It’s amazing how much giving birth to and caring for a little one can be like scaling a mountain!  So, without further ado, here we have

7 Truths About Hiking and Parenthood:

1: Sometimes traffic will suck and you’ll be late for snack or nap or lunch and baby will whine.  But then the next day neither of you remember that, you just remember the huge waterfall or dense forest or snow-covered mountain you saw the morning before.  Sweat on the trail, but don’t sweat the small stuff.

2: Parts will feel like a brutal, brutal slog by yourself through dark, dark forest.  And you won’t be sure you’ll even make it to the end.  But then you will, and you’ll realize how worth-it the brutal slog was.

3: It’s best with a friend by your side.  …and hot chocolate, of course!  

4: Sometimes the babies cry and you can’t fix it.  Like, for example when E cried because there weren’t enough dogs on the Quarry Rock trail to entertain her.  …I guess I could have kidnapped one of them and made it walk with us the whole way, but that seemed cruel.  And like a lot of work.

5: It sucks without good support!  So grab some hiking boots, a sports bra, and some great friends before you go.

6: Your burden doesn’t get lighter as the months go by, but it starts to mold to you, or you to it, and then you don’t think of it as a burden anymore but as a part of you.

7: Babies don’t care if it’s raining, and hiking backpacks come with rain covers for a reason.  Everyone’s happier out of the house!