An Attitude of Latitude...and other lessons learned at altitude

My dad was the one to bring it up as we walked together towards the outhouse. We were camping in Poudre Canyon, Colorado alongside a rushing and powerful river in the beauty of the early Colorado summer. “I notice you and Drew are choosing to parent your children with latitude”, my dad said. Latitude, we discussed, means loving our kids enough to give them exciting life experiences, presenting them with challenges that grow them as they conquer or fail them, and setting strict and safe boundaries in which they can exercise great amounts of freedom.

The whole topic was immediately applicable as we were camping, with a 5 week old baby and an almost 2 year old, 50 yards from the aforementioned rushing river, in early June- a not so toasty time to live outdoors in Colorado. The adventurous life experiences we were excited to give our children that trip included: *A road trip across Kansas *Living in a tent *Running, climbing, stumbling, building, and digging in rocks and dirt. *Elijah building and loving to be around the campfire *Elijah throwing rocks in the river *Hiking 5 miles up to 7,500 feet in intense mountain sun (Andi, who rarely poops, pooped twice on the hike- I had one diaper and no wipes, and yes, pinecones are too rough for a 5 week old baby bum- I feared she was dehydrating and I started to lose it for a bit here- thinking this was too much latitude and was instead on the verge of parenting ineptness!!).

We hadn’t even really ever talked formally about our parenting style, but Drew and I agree we want to let our kids experience and tackle adventures. To explore new things on their own, to give them boundaries for their safety and well-being, to allow them to try and struggle, fail and overcome, to allow them to exercise their own decision making skills and live into their own personality and freedoms within those loving boundaries. We want to be ready to love them unconditionally, respect their uniqueness, and help them grow their sense of self!

We are amazed at how well are kids respond to adventure and have insurmountable amounts of joy watching them. Other adventures of late include a trip to the Shatto Milk Dairy farm and a Royals Game for Andi’s 8 week birthday! 