Do you ever wish that you could just unplug from the world and enjoy some quality time with the kids, without all the distractions of cell phones and video games?
A river trip provides the perfect opportunity to do just that! I have watched kids show up for a river trip with their iPads and ear buds just to find out that they won’t have any internet on the river. Their eyes roll and there’s a look on their face that says, “this is going to be so boring” but, once they’re on the water, there’s nothing but excitement and smiles on their faces.
As Kelsey’s mom and “Awema” to my granddaughters Fallon and Quinn, it’s always a delight to join a river trip and watch families from a mom’s point of view. I enjoy watching families have fun and share new experiences without the distractions. Each day is filled with kids being kids while running a rapid, fishing, hiking, soaking in the hot springs or playing games. It’s so nice to see everyone sit down together at our big riverside dinner table to enjoy a delicious family dinner and share stories from the day’s adventures.
The experience of having the kids disconnected from technology is great, but also having the parents disconnected from work, social media, and the stresses of the daily life, is key. The lack of distractions allows everyone to focus on each other, their surroundings, and the whole experience.
These trips become lifelong memories for the whole family and these families go home more connected than ever.
What really warms my heart is to watch these same kids at the end of the trip thank their mom and dad and say that they can’t wait to do it all over again!
