September Days

There’s something I love about September. The crisp, colourful weeks balanced precariously between stifling summer humidity and the beginning of an infamous cold, grey Canadian winter are pretty incredible.

Most Septembers, I am too busy rushing to scheduled activities and negotiating packed lunch contents for co-op days to fully enjoy these weeks. 

September usually means a return to routine, both with our studies and our weekly activities. We go from hours in the backyard and a lot of sibling fighting to a more structured week (still with a lot of sibling fighting).

Whether it’s co-op or playdates, lessons or party planning (thanks to four out of five of us having fall birthdays), I always feel like I need to catch my breath and sleep for a month when the sun sets on November 30th.

This September was different.

And it was not all terrible.

While we are certainly missing our September regulars, this September was enjoyable for an unexpected reason: family field trips.

We have always tried to make a few of these happen but with a baby in tow the last few years, field trips have been problematic for a few reasons:

Hiking a few km carrying a 35 pound preschooler (who is also carrying a 5 pound rock) is not very much fun.

There is no way to make changing diapers in public bathrooms less terrible.

I do not like paying $30 for museum entry only to chase a toddler who is trying to lick everything.

Sometimes after a week packed with activities it is nice to stay home.

But, with two big kids and a preschooler now (never mind a week with very little scheduled), these adventures have become a bit easier. (Full disclosure: There was still a five pound rock incident last week but she only wanted to be carried for a third of the hike rather than most of it.)

We’ve explored caves, picked apples and hiked a few kilometres. It’s been a chance to climb some rocks, spur new interests, inspire art projects and add to our geology and botany knowledge. 

I think we’ll keep it up in October. The kids have their minds set on a corn maze.