Spring, for me, is the kind of season that is suddenly right there, all around you, with its splashes of colors and new life appearing along the roads and walkways; it brings a brightness to everything, including my spirits. Of course the return of some normalcy also brought a bit of brightness to my spirits today as well. And to celebrate, we all piled into the car for a spring drive, windows open, girls wrapped in their favorite music in their individual headphones and headed off to the library. As I’ve said in previous posts, one 17 year old loves the drive more than the hunt for books, and the 14 year old loves both the drive and the quest for good books. As for me, I love the drive, the book quest, and the togetherness.
It’s been a while since we’ve had the fun of heading out as a family. I like that my girls enjoy the warm fresh air through the open windows, and I like getting to hang out in the front seat with my husband for the drive time. And, of course, I love the company of our daughters. I love that they find joy in the drive and in time spent with us, that they don’t shrink down, embarrassed to be seen with us. And, today, I even threw them a slight curve ball regarding their time at the library. Because I tend to meander through the stacks and collect our school-related books, today, I advised them I was going to point them in the direction of the non-fiction books and have them spend a little time picking at least two books they wanted to read this week. I realized it might be a good idea for them to know the library layout beyond their few favorite spots.
Sharing those kinds of moments, when they are asked to take some of the power into their own hands, always brings me a sense of joy that is more than joy because it is as much about setting them free, empowering them in their journeys in small but meaningful ways. My husband wandered off with our 17 year old toward her favorite subject areas and, after returning our seven or eight bags of books from last week’s trip, I accompanied our 14 year old into the areas I tend to pull most of our books, pointing out the specifics along the way.
There is always a bit of a moment for them when they experience a bit of uncertainty because they feel too old for the nonfiction picture books we tend to use for our unschooling adventures. While they don’t demonstrate any embarrassment going out with their parents to the mall or the library, they experience a bit of embarrassment, looking around to see who else is around them in what is referred to as the kids’ section. What I try to help them understand is this is where I tend to find some of their favorite fact books and biographies of some familiar heroes.
This is one of the small things I hope they will realize is unimportant when it comes down to it. This is one of those bigger picture moments to me. Seriously, these nonfiction picture books are in no way simple or easy reads. They are jam packed with great information and we love them. I have no doubt they’ll get to that place of understanding one day. They will come to see limitations like the one they associate with this section of the library are self-imposed and unnecessary. Too often we box ourselves in for no reason. They’ll get there. They are gaining those big picture skills more and more.
All I know is I adore these family adventures. I love seeing the books they selected and cannot wait to hear what they discover as they read them in the coming week or two. I love that despite their wondering if it’s “okay” to be a teenager looking at kids books, their eyes light up when they come across a book that speaks to them. I love the joy they share with me when they add a book to the pile. Maybe they won’t read them, and that’s okay. I cannot recount all of the books I have checked out and eventually returned to the library without having ever cracked the spine. Or, that I tried to read and then abandoned after a page or two.
After all, it’s not about the books. It’s about the adventure. The time we share and spend driving with the windows open and taking in the world around us. It’s also about the adventure of learning—or curiosity adventures, as I like to refer to them. That’s something I hope they will always embrace, no matter how old they are or what part of the library they find themselves in. If the book speaks to you, pull it off the shelf. If the spring day beckons, get in the car and roll down the windows and enjoy your people. I know I do because these two amazing young women are some of my favorite people to adventure with each day!