An Autumn Trail With a Toddler
The thoughts in the mind of a mom during the walk…
The typical fall weather has arrived in Toronto. The temperature is less than 10 degree Celsius and it’s mostly damp and windy.
Some people say it’s depressing. However, I like to make the most of the colored scenery.
“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.” –John Muir.
No wonder we stepped out this weekend. Now, my 2-year-old daughter, who is a little over 2, is in a phase where she can walk and run without falling, so it’s nice to step out with her.
We stepped out for her first trail this fall in a nearby location. The plan was to walk and then enjoy some warm chai and hot food in a pleasant restaurant with family.
Thought I’ll share how the experience turned out.
The trail began with some wooden walkways strewn with dried leaves. See how this duo is walking in sync, hands snugly fitting into their jacket pockets. I call them ‘Me’ and ‘Mini-me’.
I wished as she walked, she ingrained the message of the resilience of nature. Sometimes calm, sometimes roaring, but always trying again and never giving up.
What a trait to teach your kids early in life.
After about 2 kilometres, we came across this gigantic tree and spent some time guessing its age. My guess is it’s at least 100 years old. What do you think?
Someone took a break from their constant need to rush and run to admire Mother Nature. I’m so intrigued about what they think, though. See the picture below.
Maybe it’s this. ‘Hope I get my favorite food when I head back and my mom isn’t lazy as usual to cook.’
‘Oh, my! Did I grab my bear or leave it at home? I hope Mumma doesn’t hide it before I can find it.’
The serenity of the lake was inviting. We encountered some people out there fishing and observed how they went about it.
After a few minutes, we got bored and continued walking. After all, having patience doesn’t suit us as 2-year-olds.
The wind turned into a storm twice, and we held onto our warm pockets inside the jackets. My daughter mostly walked with hands in her pockets or holding our hands.
She is extremely careful during her first experiences. I also know how much she opens up from the second time. This time, she is careful, but next time, it will be different.
Perhaps she would run, pluck leaves and flowers, and possibly even jump around. I reminded myself to return to the present moment and enjoy, it after making a mental note, to plan better for the future.
Thankfully, the storm passed in under a minute each time as we contemplated whether to continue our adventure or head back.
After another half an hour of walking, we reached the vista. It is a beautiful point between two lakes somewhere in Caledon, an area near Toronto.
As we admired this scenery, with all its colors, sounds, and smells, we realized it was a great idea to step out for fresh air. And our toddler walked about 3 kilometres!
Definitely, she is more sporty than I am!
For me, it was time to head back, after soaking in this view one more time.
I wish life could feel so peaceful and rewarding every day. This is what I call the beauty of ‘enough.’
The walk back was enjoyable. We walked nearly 5-kilometer with our toddler. It was her longest walk outside. We were probably more tired than her.
Next year, I want to take her to a 5 kilometer race as she loves running. This was a good start, which made me realize she can very well endure it.
We rarely see one captivating experience followed by another. This one was. We enjoyed hot masala chai and amazing Indian cuisine at a restaurant in Brampton on the way back home.
“Nature is not a place to visit, it is home.” –Gary Snyder.
I’d love to hear from you. How are you enjoying the autumn or fall?
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