Into the Woods

My mom took me and my three brothers into the woods when we were little. We went on so many outings and so many rides through the mountains and so many picnics that my childhood seems like one long, enjoyable picnic.  

We moved more than 10 times and lived in three different states, but my family was the immovable foundation of my life. I never felt displaced. I had a solid place in my family and not much else mattered. Much of the reason I felt this way is that my mom (and Dad) filled our weeks with cozy, near constant family adventures.

You can do this, too, and it’s not very hard! All kids generally need to have an adventure is a tree, some rocks, and some food. So, if you can locate a tree and at least two rocks, go to that spot and watch your adventures unfold.

Now, about the food. When the word “picnic” comes up many moms’ knees buckle at the thought of transporting a whole meal out into the woods and serving it on a checkered tablecloth. The idea seems so daunting that they just turn on a movie for the kids and throw some corn dogs in the microwave while scrolling on their phone.

This does not have to be your pathetic fate. (Although it’s ok if it happens sometimes.)

Occasionally I actually make potato salad from scratch and assemble sandwiches and we do indeed eat it on a checkered tablecloth. But you don’t have to do that. Don’t deprive your child of an adventure they may remember forever just because you’re too tired to make sandwiches.

After years of trial and error and countless picnics, I have struck upon what I believe is the perfect recipe for a picnic. I call it the French Bread Picnic. It involves minimal prep, minimal money, and minimal mess.

Here's what you do:

• Buy a loaf or two of French bread (My local store sells this for $1 a loaf!)

• Buy some string cheese

• Buy a big bunch of grapes

Throw all this and some water bottles into a box or basket or bag and set off into the woods (or to the nearest park.) If you remember to throw in a blanket, it’s a bonus. Then, unleash your children or grandchildren into the wild, and when they’re hungry they’ll return to the spot where you’ve thrown down a blanket and be ready to eat.

Let them rip off hunks of French bread to eat (they’ll love this), pluck grapes from the vine, and engage in the perennial joy of peeling string cheese away from itself. None of this requires any food prep whatsoever (other than purchasing it) and there is almost no clean up. You don’t even need plates!

The crumbs from the bread will fall to the ground to be consumed by thankful birds, the grapes can be eaten whole with no cutting, no juice will drip down anyone’s chin, and you don’t even have to slice cheese! Do you see how beautiful this is? And all this unfolds as you sit back and watch your children play with sticks and rocks outside in the glorious setting God made for just this purpose.

You still have time. The weather this time of year is amenable to picnics, but it won’t last long. So go on a picnic—TODAY if you can! Childhood is fleeting and it longs to be filled with picnics and rocks and hunks of French bread.

I’m opening this post to comments from all subscribers (not just my much-loved paid subscribers) so please let me know how your picnic goes, what plans you’re spinning for your family, or what your parents did to make your childhood memorable and magical!

Family memories are made one day at a time.

Go make one today!

This is a “cookie” post. A small dollop to bring joy into your family journey :)