Comments on: Birding With Kids: The Raw, Unfiltered Truth http://laurakammermeier.com/2009/08/birding-with-kids-the-raw-unfiltered-truth/ Birds, Words, & Websites Wed, 09 May 2012 11:55:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Laura http://laurakammermeier.com/2009/08/birding-with-kids-the-raw-unfiltered-truth/comment-page-1/#comment-862 Laura Tue, 01 Sep 2009 13:22:43 +0000 http://laurakammermeier.com/?p=1064#comment-862 Janet, Truthfully, they already do appreciate my passion. When I've come home from distant lands (whether it be Central America or the nearby Adirondacks) after a birding trip, the boys are rapt with attention for my stories and photos. It's a big, wide world. I like that they see me out there, part of it, as opposed to gathering moss on the couch. Whether or not they enjoy birding is up to them, but hopefully they'll absorb a sense of adventure. Why? Because my favorite Twain quote is: Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness. PS: Enjoyed that photo of Sarah with all the gadgetry. I can relate! Janet,
Truthfully, they already do appreciate my passion. When I’ve come home from distant lands (whether it be Central America or the nearby Adirondacks) after a birding trip, the boys are rapt with attention for my stories and photos. It’s a big, wide world. I like that they see me out there, part of it, as opposed to gathering moss on the couch. Whether or not they enjoy birding is up to them, but hopefully they’ll absorb a sense of adventure.

Why? Because my favorite Twain quote is: Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.

PS: Enjoyed that photo of Sarah with all the gadgetry. I can relate!

]]> By: Janet Hug http://laurakammermeier.com/2009/08/birding-with-kids-the-raw-unfiltered-truth/comment-page-1/#comment-857 Janet Hug Tue, 01 Sep 2009 01:53:57 +0000 http://laurakammermeier.com/?p=1064#comment-857 Your kids will eventually appreciate your passion and perhaps pick up your hobby. One day they will sit down and listen politely when you regale them with an exciting birding story. They will feign enthusiasm even though it might bore them, but love it anyway because that story comes from you, their birding Mom. Speaking from experience here. I was really delighted when my daughter became a cross country runner. Cross country running involves being outdoors for many hours, good, usually in a wooded environment, better, and I could take along my binoculars when she had a practice or a meet, best. I could bird and be a sports mom at the same time. Finding that happy balance can be a challenge, but you will find a way to fit birding into the most unexpected ways while being a Mom. Have you discovered the Tide pen? It works wonders on Gatorade stains. :)) I know, we went through cases of the stuff during my daughter's cross country running career. http://www.flickr.com/photos/jkissnhug/2809913674/in/photostream/ Your kids will eventually appreciate your passion and perhaps pick up your hobby. One day they will sit down and listen politely when you regale them with an exciting birding story. They will feign enthusiasm even though it might bore them, but love it anyway because that story comes from you, their birding Mom. Speaking from experience here.

I was really delighted when my daughter became a cross country runner. Cross country running involves being outdoors for many hours, good, usually in a wooded environment, better, and I could take along my binoculars when she had a practice or a meet, best. I could bird and be a sports mom at the same time. Finding that happy balance can be a challenge, but you will find a way to fit birding into the most unexpected ways while being a Mom. Have you discovered the Tide pen? It works wonders on Gatorade stains. :) ) I know, we went through cases of the stuff during my daughter’s cross country running career.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jkissnhug/2809913674/in/photostream/

]]> By: Laura http://laurakammermeier.com/2009/08/birding-with-kids-the-raw-unfiltered-truth/comment-page-1/#comment-787 Laura Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:33:25 +0000 http://laurakammermeier.com/?p=1064#comment-787 You said it right, Eric. If they are not quite there, yet, make time for yourself. I've done so more than ever this past year and we are all much happier for it. We also had bluebirds this year and the kids watched the babies grow up. Now they know what that looks like. Jeff, re: The Plan. You are absolutely right. My kids can sniff out one of Mama's PLANs in an instant and never our two agendas shall meet. Kids are too smart these days! You said it right, Eric. If they are not quite there, yet, make time for yourself. I’ve done so more than ever this past year and we are all much happier for it. We also had bluebirds this year and the kids watched the babies grow up. Now they know what that looks like.

Jeff, re: The Plan. You are absolutely right. My kids can sniff out one of Mama’s PLANs in an instant and never our two agendas shall meet. Kids are too smart these days!

]]> By: Jeff Bouton http://laurakammermeier.com/2009/08/birding-with-kids-the-raw-unfiltered-truth/comment-page-1/#comment-786 Jeff Bouton Wed, 26 Aug 2009 17:53:56 +0000 http://laurakammermeier.com/?p=1064#comment-786 Laura, I found as a birding Dad who had a similar life during my son's early years, that as soon as I gave up on "the plan" things started to work better. That is the second I started birding on Austin's terms rather than trying to sell him on mine, that things just started working. Sure I may have caught a lot more spiders, bugs, frogs, and snakes than I would have anticipated if the birding was on my terms, but none-the-less I wouldn't trade it for the world! :) Great read BTW! Laura,

I found as a birding Dad who had a similar life during my son’s early years, that as soon as I gave up on “the plan” things started to work better. That is the second I started birding on Austin’s terms rather than trying to sell him on mine, that things just started working. Sure I may have caught a lot more spiders, bugs, frogs, and snakes than I would have anticipated if the birding was on my terms, but none-the-less I wouldn’t trade it for the world! :) Great read BTW!

]]> By: Eric Banford http://laurakammermeier.com/2009/08/birding-with-kids-the-raw-unfiltered-truth/comment-page-1/#comment-783 Eric Banford Wed, 26 Aug 2009 13:19:19 +0000 http://laurakammermeier.com/?p=1064#comment-783 Yes, taking it slow and not pushing is the key. Let them come to it if they are interested, if not then make time for yourself. Having a bird house occupied by bluebird families this year brought birding "close to home" as we watched from the window and checked the boxes occasionally. Now they are getting to the point of showing me birds when they see them: "Dad, look! Is that the Harrier?!" Fun stuff. And I really loved the Richard Louve book, he gave a great talk here at Cornell. Yes, taking it slow and not pushing is the key. Let them come to it if they are interested, if not then make time for yourself. Having a bird house occupied by bluebird families this year brought birding “close to home” as we watched from the window and checked the boxes occasionally. Now they are getting to the point of showing me birds when they see them: “Dad, look! Is that the Harrier?!” Fun stuff.

And I really loved the Richard Louve book, he gave a great talk here at Cornell.

]]> By: Laura http://laurakammermeier.com/2009/08/birding-with-kids-the-raw-unfiltered-truth/comment-page-1/#comment-779 Laura Wed, 26 Aug 2009 11:10:35 +0000 http://laurakammermeier.com/?p=1064#comment-779 Perhaps I struck a chord with this one: of frustration in seasoned parents, of abject fear in new ones! My point is that sometimes, despite summoning all the tricks of the parenting trade, you're going to have big, fat failures in your attempts to share nature with your kids. This may last days, months, even years. Change your focus if you have to for a while, but keep your interests alive. Eventually, the kids will come around--they'll pick up exactly what they're meant to pick up and nothing more. Alan, don't be shy about linking your stuff here in the comments so that others can find your stories. Perhaps I struck a chord with this one: of frustration in seasoned parents, of abject fear in new ones! My point is that sometimes, despite summoning all the tricks of the parenting trade, you’re going to have big, fat failures in your attempts to share nature with your kids. This may last days, months, even years. Change your focus if you have to for a while, but keep your interests alive. Eventually, the kids will come around–they’ll pick up exactly what they’re meant to pick up and nothing more.

Alan, don’t be shy about linking your stuff here in the comments so that others can find your stories.

]]> By: Alan Tilmouth http://laurakammermeier.com/2009/08/birding-with-kids-the-raw-unfiltered-truth/comment-page-1/#comment-778 Alan Tilmouth Wed, 26 Aug 2009 09:21:54 +0000 http://laurakammermeier.com/?p=1064#comment-778 Don't get me started, with three kids under the age of six I've had to devote a whole section of my blog to the posts about 'Birding with Kids'. Frustration is a permanent companion. Don’t get me started, with three kids under the age of six I’ve had to devote a whole section of my blog to the posts about ‘Birding with Kids’. Frustration is a permanent companion.

]]> By: Gunnar Engblom http://laurakammermeier.com/2009/08/birding-with-kids-the-raw-unfiltered-truth/comment-page-1/#comment-773 Gunnar Engblom Wed, 26 Aug 2009 05:36:38 +0000 http://laurakammermeier.com/?p=1064#comment-773 Laura, Great post. I just filled in the forms to have my two daughter adopted.... Just kidding...!! Luciana 2.5y actually loves birds...but I think I will follow Eric's way to her coming years. My grown up daughter from my first marriage is not into birds at all, though I always took her birding as a kid...untill it came to an extent when she bluntly asked...Do we have to birding?....AGAIN? Anahi,,,,of three weeks is too young to know better of course...time will tell! Laura,

Great post. I just filled in the forms to have my two daughter adopted….
Just kidding…!!
Luciana 2.5y actually loves birds…but I think I will follow Eric’s way to her coming years. My grown up daughter from my first marriage is not into birds at all, though I always took her birding as a kid…untill it came to an extent when she bluntly asked…Do we have to birding?….AGAIN?

Anahi,,,,of three weeks is too young to know better of course…time will tell!

]]> By: Laura http://laurakammermeier.com/2009/08/birding-with-kids-the-raw-unfiltered-truth/comment-page-1/#comment-772 Laura Wed, 26 Aug 2009 02:43:33 +0000 http://laurakammermeier.com/?p=1064#comment-772 Eric, All the long-distance chasing aside, sounds great that your kids gravitated toward your favorite interests. I resolved my dilemma by making time to bird on my own, while I leave more active hikes and climbs for when I'm with the kids. Happy to report those golden moments in nature are coming at a more frequent pace, now. Linea, Yes, you are doomed. But I admire your gusto. Bring a babysitter. Even if it has cords and a pause button. ; ) Eric,
All the long-distance chasing aside, sounds great that your kids gravitated toward your favorite interests.

I resolved my dilemma by making time to bird on my own, while I leave more active hikes and climbs for when I’m with the kids. Happy to report those golden moments in nature are coming at a more frequent pace, now.

Linea,
Yes, you are doomed. But I admire your gusto. Bring a babysitter. Even if it has cords and a pause button. ; )

]]> By: Eric Gyllenhaal http://laurakammermeier.com/2009/08/birding-with-kids-the-raw-unfiltered-truth/comment-page-1/#comment-771 Eric Gyllenhaal Wed, 26 Aug 2009 02:22:01 +0000 http://laurakammermeier.com/?p=1064#comment-771 I'd say, don't take them birding -- take them on an outdoor adventure to see the reptiles, mammals, bugs, rocks, slurpy mud, old cars, or anything else that might catch their attention. If there are cool birds, or birds doing cool things, point them out -- or let them point them out to you. It's more important that the boys are *interested* than that they are interested in *birds.* If you get some birding in while they are busy catching (or being caught by) Giant African Frogs, that's great. If not, bring the Gameboys or books/music on tape/MP3 player to distract them for at least short intervals. Or hire a sitter to come along and keep and eye on them. (Better yet, make the sitter pay you for the privilege!) Eric I’d say, don’t take them birding — take them on an outdoor adventure to see the reptiles, mammals, bugs, rocks, slurpy mud, old cars, or anything else that might catch their attention. If there are cool birds, or birds doing cool things, point them out — or let them point them out to you. It’s more important that the boys are *interested* than that they are interested in *birds.*
If you get some birding in while they are busy catching (or being caught by) Giant African Frogs, that’s great. If not, bring the Gameboys or books/music on tape/MP3 player to distract them for at least short intervals. Or hire a sitter to come along and keep and eye on them. (Better yet, make the sitter pay you for the privilege!)
Eric

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