Gone are the days of children eagerly hopping on their bikes first thing in the morning and filling their days with endless outdoor adventures, exploring the neighborhood, local woods, or stream, cultivating creativity in imaginary play, or learning valuable lifelong lessons in communication, conflict, and cooperation in an impromptu ballgame with siblings and the neighborhood kids. Screens have quickly replaced bicycles as the most coveted form of technology in children’s lives. Screens that offer endless streaming options so children become an audience of one another and watch as others share their hands-on adventures and explorations.
Technology has also allowed parents to receive an influx of information and world news at their fingertips 24/7 heightening parents’ fears of danger and harm that could occur to their child. To protect our children, we parents shelter them from the physical freedom of independent play outdoors and justify it by saying we’re protecting them from potential harm. To compensate for it we sign them up for organized sports and traveling teams which all quickly become the center and focus of the family, often having mom go in one direction with one child and dad in the opposite direction with the other. Does this hit home for anyone else? It did me. And to be honest, it’s through no fault of our own, as parents the magnitude of technological advances that have been made means we’re making far more decisions than our own parents ever had to when it comes to the safety and wellbeing of our children. Ultimately knowing that we will have to live with whatever consequences, outcome, or lifelong guilt that could potentially occur from our decision-making, that’s a lot of pressure! Is there a solution? Do we just stop signing up our kids for organized activities and let them free-range the neighborhood? No. Let me clarify, I have nothing against organized activities and sports, they provide children with physical fitness and good lifelong skills and lessons. That being said, we, as parents need to make the time to slow down the fast-paced lifestyle that our families have become accustomed to, disconnect from technology, reconnect as a family, build sibling bonds, and nurture our mental and physical health with forest therapy through forest bathing!
Forest Therapy and Forest Bathing
Forest Therapy is an immersion experience that supports the wellness and health of individuals through embodied activities with sensory attention. In essence, the forest is the therapist encouraging introspection through meditation and mindfulness. The purpose is to slow us down, be in the present moment, be cognizant of all the senses, smell the forest, hear the sounds of nature, see the sun rays as they blanket the forest path, touch the rough bark of the pine tree and feel the soft moss meandering the bedrock. Then be mindful of yourself in the forest, your breathing, the warmth of the sun, how the terrain changes and is felt by your joints, etc. Forest bathing is more than just a break from the monotony of life, studies have found that it lowers stress hormones, decreases blood pressure, boosts immune function, reduces ADHD symptoms in children, and may be useful clinically as a supplement to treatments for major depression (Source). Additionally, since family bonds are formed and cultivated through shared experiences, forest bathing is especially advantageous for families because we create meaningful memories through shared sensory experiences. This is why we planned a forest bathing experience for our crew in Hocking Hills Ohio!
Brief Background
Brent and I have been dating for two years. We have each been married previously and divorced. I have three teenagers and he has two tweens. We are cognizant of the statistics when it comes to second marriages; this is why we are taking our time. Our children come first and it is important to us that we give them the time and opportunity to form natural bonds through shared experiences. This is why a weekend away to Hocking Hills and forest bathing together was the perfect experience to begin cultivating those bonds.
We arrived Friday night, he had his room with his children, I had my room with mine and we all met up for a swim before bed. The next morning he was so kind as to surprise me with coffee then he and the kiddos enjoyed the continental breakfast and a morning swim. While I logged in to a meeting for grad school. Around noon once my meeting was finally over we stopped at Walmart and each of the kiddos picked out their food for a picnic lunch in the park. Our first stop, is Cedar Falls. Everyone helped grab bags and we picnicked then those who could stomach it used the port-a-pot before embarking on our adventure.
There was so much mud, slippery rocks, narrow terrain, climbing, etc. We each had to help one another traverse the path all while hearing the rush of the fall, feeling the cool damp mist coming off of the rocks, and seeing the beautiful shades of contrasting blue of the water on the deep beige in the rock. The forest bathing had officially begun and before we knew it we were deep in Forest Therapy and building trust as a unit.
I was honestly blown away by the effects nature had on the children. A couple of them were exploring the waterbank together and looking for rocks to skip while others ventured ahead on the path, eager to see what was beyond the next bend. Brent and I were actually able to walk hand-in-hand as a couple and admire the natural beauty that enveloped us. Next stop, Ash Cave.
This time the children practically jumped out of the vehicles in excitement to see what our next exploration in nature uncovered. Let’s just say forest bathing hit a new level. The muddy forest trail gave way to a clearing, sand, and the most awe-inspiring view any of us have ever witnessed. There was nowhere to be but the present moment for it was taking our breath away.
Full disclosure, we did allow the children to keep their phones on them to take photos, it was an “at your own risk” situation between the cliffs, water, and port-a-pots.
At one point they all just sat down to take in the view and I couldn’t help but take a pic.
And then the most amazing thing happened. I witnessed a true forest bathing moment, my two oldest who are often bickering with one another were seated together laughing and enjoying one another’s company. My momma’s heart was exploding with joy and it was at that moment that I knew we needed to do this more often.
We grabbed pizza for dinner, swam, slept, had breakfast, swam, attended Sunday morning Mass, and then stopped off at Walmart for food for a picnic lunch, hey, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. Our first stop of the day was Rock House.
As we entered there was darkness, the unknown heightened my awareness and I was extremely cautious, and there was reverberation and echoes all around that made it difficult to hear my own thoughts. Talk about therapeutic, I couldn’t help but see the correlation to my own life. Entering the Rock House was reminiscent of my divorce process. And then, mid-thought, just like that I felt a warm embrace as Brent took my hand, and guided me over a large slippery rock, and the sun exposed the smile on his face. I’m beyond thankful that God has sent me this awesome man who has encouraged, loved, and supported me in all my endeavors. Had I allowed the fast pace of my life to cloud my gratitude? Forest Therapy allowed for much-needed introspection.
Our last stop along our forest bathing excursion is Cantwell Cliffs.
My main takeaway from Cantwell Cliffs is, to enjoy the journey as you ascend in life, whatever the path might be. When you look back down let go of any fear but instead admire the height you have traveled, the rocky path you traversed, the mud that caked your shoes, and most importantly, the people who lent you a hand and helped you along your journey. This was definitely a therapeutic family-building bonding experience for the memory books!
Mom on the go in Holy Toledo 