Adventures with Sarah and Al

This post is all about how adventure and travel can help raise brave kids -- which is something we need more of in this crazy world.  That day at Charco Azul reminded me why raising brave kids isn’t about lectures — it’s about adventure, discomfort, and learning through travel. Bravery Isn’t Taught—It’s Practiced To celebrate the new year, we went on an adventurous hike in Vega Baja: Charco Azul. It's not very long, but it involves some swimming through a river. With a two year old and an almost four year old, that can be rather daunting.  Safe chance to practice bravery Our two year old, E, enjoyed hiking and demanded breaks when he was scared. Then came the part where he and I had to swim across the river. We had life jackets and were using our lillebaby carrier. We have done other hikes similar to this. They were safe, but it was scary.  Before we followed H and Al across the water, he and I talked about what being brave means. Sometimes being brave means trying somet...

I hesitated at first, not wanting this to feel like a “because it’s February” post. But many of the books I intentionally place on our shelves — the ones we return to again and again — are written by people of color or center characters of color. Some are already dog-eared, some requested night after night, some quoted back to me in toddler voices. These stories have shaped how my boys see heroes, families, and themselves in the world. As a parent, I’m learning that what we read shapes what feels normal, familiar, and worthy of curiosity. This month feels like a natural moment to share those stories, already woven into our story time, and to continue making space for voices that deserve to be heard all year long. A Storytime that Stopped Us I have this book that I remember choosing when I was little, won from a library raffle or something similar. It’s about a young girl visiting the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., with her class...

1. An Invitation to Adventure (No Packing Required) One of my favorite things about being a mama is taking my kids on adventures. They learn to lift their heads, see, sit, stand, walk, run, dance, etc. They learn from the world and grow in their knowledge.  Reading to my boys is a wonderful adventure. It's one that I am grateful to be a part of this adventure almost every night. Reading is a different kind of adventure. It's one where we walk through wardrobes and meet talking lions. We spin in a treehouse to the pyramids. We learn to talk to the animals like the wild robot.  Research has shown that shared reading in early childhood supports communication and connection, not just academic skills (Raikes et al., 2006). We love adventures. Opening a book is a trip, a quiet, shared adventure. You don't need plane tickets, gear, or perfect schedules. It is an accessible, every-day adventure. 2. The Night a Story Became Real I started reading The Chronicles of Narnia  to my...