Sometimes I resign myself to the thought that having four kids excludes me from adventure/exploration. I'm not going to lie, It's a big deal traveling alone with them. It requires patience, preparation, a ton of energy, and it never fail fails- someone always pukes. Often times I'm overwhelmed and tempted to not go.
But getting out of our routines and familiar surroundings seems to open up this magical little space of time where we grow. Exponentially. Together. We are on the same plane of awe, and wonder, and experience, and they teach me. Children require a pace that allows freedom to follow their wanderings. In turn, we discover the most amazing marmalade filled croissants at a waterfront coffee stand. We hover over a snail that we've never seen before, and watch it leave a trail of slime. We spend 15 minutes laughing at the way the drinking fountain squirts water in our faces... I would've missed all of it had they not shown me.