A HOPEFUL HEART â—½ YOU
Little Walks that Matter Most
by Christina Oberon
Last weekend, my husband, our six-year-old son, our dog, and I embarked on a grand adventure, otherwise known as a walk through our neighborhood. To the untrained eye, it may have looked like a simple stroll, but in our world, it was an expedition. There were snacks to be packed (because, of course, a 30-minute walk requires provisions), water bottles to be filled, and the mandatory pre-departure negotiations about wearing a sweater and proper shoes. Meanwhile, our dog spun in excited circles, sensing that his favorite part of the day was about to begin.
These are the moments I really treasure, the ordinary ones that become extraordinary simply because we’re together. Today's world can pull families in a million different directions, so, being intentional about family time isn’t just important, it’s essential.
I’ll be the first to admit that I sometimes get caught up in the idea of the “perfect” family moment; the Instagram-worthy adventure, the unwrinkled outfits, the picturesque outing. But real life with a six-year-old (and an enthusiastic dog) looks a little different. It’s more like stopping every five feet to inspect a rock, picking the brightest flowers and fruits, racing each other to the next streetlight, and trying (unsuccessfully) to keep the dog from chasing after every animal he sees or not tangle his leash around our legs in his excited twirls.
The truth is that the best memories aren’t carefully planned, but unfold in the messy, joyful, unpredictable moments of life. More than anything, my son doesn’t need perfection, he just needs me fully present, not distracted by my phone or lost in my to-do list. Just there. And I’ve come to realize that creating these meaningful, uninterrupted moments often requires a conscious choice to say no to distractions, obligations, and the pull of busyness, so I can say yes to what matters most, like these family walks.
Quality family time doesn’t have to mean elaborate vacations or picture-perfect experiences. Quality is found in engaged bedtime stories, the joy of outside play, the spontaneous dance parties in the living room to our favorite songs, or playing eye-spy while eating dinner together.
Kids don’t measure love in grand gestures. They measure it in time spent, in laughter shared, in the way we show up for them day after day. And honestly? The same goes for marriage. It’s easy to let the busyness of life push quality time with our spouse to the back burner, but those small, intentional acts like, holding hands on a walk, sharing a quiet moment after the kids are asleep are what keep a marriage strong.
Before I became a parent, I would always hear how time moves far too quickly when raising kids, and this has proven to be true. One day, you’re rocking a baby to sleep, and the next, you’re trying to keep up with a six-year-old on a scooter. There’s no pause button, no rewind. But there is now.
So I'm taking in the adventures, big and small. I'm soaking in the giggles (and tears), the sticky hugs, the late-night whispers of “one more story, please.” I'm embracing the beautifully chaotic reality of family life. The messy middle. The adventure-filled neighborhood walks. I'm realizing that in doing so, we give our son, and ourselves, the greatest gift of all - the gift of being fully present, fully loved, and fully known.