Inch by Inch, Row by Row

Our garden is almost fully planted so now begins Ben's thrice-daily visits to the garden to check on his plants. I joke with him that a watched plant never grows, and wonder if he really sees any change from, say, 9 AM to 12 noon. But alas, he keeps checking.

As with plants, it is often hard to notice our kids' growth and development when it happens before our eyes on a daily basis. Sometimes it takes a step back (even a weekend away from them will do this) to realize how fast they are growing. I am always reminded of their steep growth trajectory when we return to a place we haven't been in awhile, and things are just different. I noticed this phenomenon when we were at my parents' house a few weekends ago for the first time since Thanksgiving, and I especially noticed it at the lake this past weekend. Seven plus months older than the last time we were there, the boys have changed much since Columbus Day weekend. While still shy of all the hullabaloo at first, Ethan is significantly more independent now - wanting to play outside on rock mountain by himself, venturing off on a fishing trip with only Grandpa and cousin Aidan,

and voicing his opinions about where he wants to explore and when. He also remembers so much more than he did a year ago, his anticipation climbing in the weeks and days leading up to opening weekend. On the way over to the lake on Saturday morning, we made a list of all the things we remembered about Keoka, and what we were most excited about seeing again. Top on Ethan's list was (of course) Grandpa's fishing boat, but not far behind were...the kitchen stools. Both cottages at the lake have stools where the boys can pony up to the counter and cure their insatiable appetites with food that always taste better after a day in the fresh air. Isn't it funny the associations our brain creates and the memories it stores? On Adam's list were the multitude of fishies that live in T'Kozy - there's the singing fish on the mantle (which, it turns out, now scares the daylight out of this suddenly more timid toddler), and the giant stuffed fishes that make perfect snuggle or wrestling buddies for little boys.

Speaking of Adam, it's amazing how much more controlled (and therefore, how much more fun) a two-and-a-half-year old is than an almost-two-year old. At home, Adam has still been, frankly, driving us bonkers with his inability to sit still at the dinner table, hands in all places they aren't supposed to be, and blatant disregard for our directions. Don't get me wrong - all those monsters packed up their stuff and joined us with their heads rearing at the lake this weekend, but what didn't show up was the constant opening and emptying of cabinets, or the incessant stair climbing and descending, or the flat out sprint and dive into the lake. The development of these self-preservation instincts made for a significantly more pleasant and relaxing weekend for our entire family.

The compound is a unique and idyllic place where kids can roam free and explore and spread their wings, all in a relatively safe environment. We can now trust our boys to run a few hundred yards ahead down the beach trail, knowing that they will stop when their feet touch sand. We are afforded a perfect opportunity to allow Ethan to wander off with a cousin for a bit, and see how it goes (for all of us). And we can give our boys what they need most - time and space to run and play and imagine and grow. But amidst all that wing-testing and nest-jumping, there is always room and support for returning to our roots, for family, and for snuggles.