Letting Kids be Kids: Life in the Country

As a kid, I grew up in Northern Michigan, in a tiny subdivision with only a handful of houses at the time. Lots of room to roam, partially wooded & such a great place to grow up. With that said, as I got into my teen years, I wanted to be around more people, live in our neighboring city, just 25 minutes away. It offered a downtown district with shops & restaurants. When I moved out on my own after college, I did just that. I rented a small apartment right in the downtown area, walkable to all the things.

Fast forward to the present day. I’m now 37, a mom of two & recently moved back to the country, only miles from where I grew up. We are currently in the process of prepping our land to build soon. The plan is to build a smaller home in the country, and then also buy something near that same downtown area in the future. Moral of the story. I want both & I want my kids to be able to experience both city living and county living as I did as a kid. I don’t want them to have to choose one or the other. They should be able to experience both.

The Amenities

I love the amenities of living in the city. So do my kiddos. We love going to the downtown shops, all the amazing parks, ice-cream shops & of course candy stories and our favorite restaurants. However, this past year living out in the country, they’ve been able to experience so much that they’d never had before. Its been a fun year watching them grow and experience new things, making new memories.

Letting Kids be Kids…

If there is one thing I’ve learned in the last year, it is I need to let go. Let go of trying to keep them clean all the time. Let go of worrying about every single thing they do and so much more. My son has learned to drive a tractor, drive machinery, chop wood, shoot a gun, deer hunt, bird hunt, different types of fishing, and so much more. My daughter actually will let herself get dirty now without freaking out, she learned to ride a bike, drive a tractor and so much more. They are only 8 and 4.

Some of Our Favorite Activities…

We love to be anywhere near the water, so swimming in our local freshwater lakes is top of the list. Then I’d say hiking/going for walks is another top favorite. Recently we got a 4-wheeler for the kids and a trampoline. They love playing sports outside, riding bikes, and most recently playing in hammocks and swings. The latest swing we got and hung from a tree in the woods is one from www.PlayWildUSA.com I am so happy with it! The kids, especially my 4-year-old are so happy & excited every chance she gets to play on it. We just have it hung on a tree over on our property at the moment. In the Spring, we do plan on more of a permanent structure to hang it from. Check out the images below of the kids enjoying our property & them swinging on our Country 10-acre property! Message me if you have any questions about the swing. Follow the link above to browse yourself.

I want to hear from you!

What are your favorite things about City living or Country living with your kids? Share a fun trip or story with me. All who email me a story will be entered to win a Gift Card. Send to hello@momwifefitnesslife.com.