Category: Motherhood Moments

Sundance Resort Kids Camp, Sundance, Utah

Big E loved spending a day at Sundance Resort Kids’ Camp last week. Here’s a re-post of what I wrote for the Sundance Resort Blog. Check out the original here.

When we first arrived at Sundance Kids Camp, my reluctant five-year-old was loathe to leave my side, clinging to my leg like a koala bear. I tried to get him interested in the group by joining in with the kids’ morning yoga class, where we pointed our arms like a compass, stood in “Tada” sana or Mountain pose and acted like animals. Ethan finally cracked a smile with the help of the Sundance camp leaders when pretending to be a puffer fish and rolling on his mat.
  Ethan (3 of 5)
While I snuck away, the group learned about predators and prey with an interactive tag game my son later described like this, “I liked the tagger game, you could be two mountain lions and they had to tag the deer, and they died. If you died you had to sit down.” It may not be eloquent, but his explanation showed me that not only had he learned something, he had fun doing it.
 Kids camp (1 of 6)-2
Years ago kids roamed the mountains all summer long with the Sundance Mountain School and Sundance Kids Camp. The tradition took a long hiatus, finally returning this year as the Sundance Summer Kids Camp.
Sundance Mountain Resort is an ideal place to send your kids on a summer day. The shady mountainsides, cooler temperatures and plethora of activities make it a great location for childhood play. Throughout the summer, kids ages 5-12 can hike, play, explore, and create all in the beauty of the mountains. With different themes like Water World or Survivor Kids for each week, the attendees are sure to be entertained.
 Kids camp (6 of 6)-2
In addition to hands on learning about predators and prey, Ethan’s group watched a live animal demonstration, had art activities, learned about camouflage and played games related to the week’s theme – Animal Adventures.
 At the end of the day, the shy kid from that morning was gone, replaced by a happy, laughing one. He had spent the day running, learning, and playing in the great outdoors of Sundance. I knew it was a success when he asked me later, “Can I go back every week?” You can’t get a better recommendation than that.Ethan (5 of 5)
Susan Strayer lives near Sundance resort and spends much of her time snowboarding, hiking, and getting up the courage to mountain bike. Read more at www.mountainmomandtots.com.

Happy Father’s Day!

I wish all those Mountain Dads out there a very Happy Father’s Day, especially mine! Thanks for hiking, biking, camping, off roading and adventuring with us. I never would’ve realized how great the outdoors were without you. Thanks!

 To all you dads out there – thanks for all you do!

Happy Father’s Day!

Motherhood Moments: Acceptable Risk in the Outdoors

I recently read this fascinating article from Psychology Today on why children need risky play. In it author Peter Grey reviews research by Ellen Sandester that says that children seek out risky play in the following six categories.
  1. Great Heights – perhaps this is why little g and Big E try to rock climb up the fireplace
  2. Rapid Speeds – sledding, snowboarding, skiing, bikes
  3. Dangerous Tools – Big E asks to help cut vegetables, use the drill or hammer anything, anywhere
  4. Dangerous Elements – Fire and deep bodies of water
  5. Rough and Tumble – My favorite game growing up was tickle monster, now it’s my kids’ as well
  6. Getting Lost/Disappearing – Hide and Seek, kids only play spaces

The article explains that kids crave play in this way to test their limits, learn how to handle fear and to feel thrill by combining the joy of freedom with a dose of danger. Risky play can help with emotional regulation of children, teaching them how to keep a level head when they feel scared or how to manage anger when rough and tumble play gets out of hand.

If free play involving some element of danger is so important to kids development, why is it so hard as a parent to let them do it? In general I allow my tots as much freedom as I can, at times resulting in being too lenient compared to other parents.

On a recent adventure to Bridal Veil Falls in Provo Canyon, Utah I was fine with my five year old son climbing this rocky slope, while my brother and sister in law stopped their four year old daughter halfway up. They were both being safe, and nobody got hurt.

Later, Big E decided to explore the back side of the fish pond, which was only accessible via a path on a steep section of mountain that could’ve easily resulted in sliding into the water. Since the water was only a foot or two deep (although it was frigid) I was fine with E exploring there, but again my niece was not allowed to go. In that moment I felt pressure to stop Big E from his risky play, since that’s what the other adults expected, but another part of me wanted to stop the adults from being so uptight.

I understand the play it safe mentality that parents use with kids. I do it myself as well. On most outdoor adventures I find myself issuing the same well used warnings to my kids that my brother and sister in law used with theirs. Be careful! Come down from there! You’re too far ahead, I have to see you! 

Saying these things helps me feel like I’m in control of my children’s behavior, even though I know I’m not. I may control their location, I may have told them my expectations, but in any given moment I cannot force them to act in a certain way. I believe this is the trust of parenthood, how much freedom can I feel comfortable giving my children? As they grow, that amount must increase as well.

After reading Risky Play: Why Children Need It and Love It I’ve decided to stop trying to control every move my children make. If they are exploring the woods I will only allow myself one “Be Careful.” If they want to throw rocks in water, I’ll join in with them. I hope being involved with their play will mitigate the dangers I see and they don’t, and hopefully we’ll all be better off for it.

Motherhood Moments: Happy Mother’s Day!

Mother of 9 and grandmother of 27 my mom truly is marvelous. In honor of Mother’s Day I just want to say thanks for always being patient, fun loving and kind.

Here are some memories:

My parents were so poor when they first started out they lived in a two room farmhouse. My mom fed and clothed the seven children who shared that space on next to nothing.

My mother is tough. She gave birth to nine children all naturally and breast fed us all until age 1.

When the side window in our van shattered on a road trip mom fastened a blanket to the opening using wire hangers that was strong enough to lean against.

She lived three years in Mexico on a service mission for our church, even though she barely knew Spanish when she went.

One Christmas when I felt alone and forgotten, my mom told the story of how she chose my middle name, Elizabeth because she was inspired by Elisabeth in the bible. It was the best Christmas gift I got.

Mom, I love you and think you’re an amazing example.