"It's a Mental Health Day."

My children are unique and our parenting strategies have probably created these special people. We have an open language policy and we have encouraged Owee, Cormac, and Miranda to speak their minds, question things that don't make sense to them, and be their own persons. 

When Miranda was a little girl, she had a strange fashion sense... purple leggings with pink stars, a white Christmas themed turtleneck, both under a pink leotard and frilly tutu. Owee would match stripes with stripes, polka dots with polka dots, all purple one day, and all pink the next. Cormac would find one thing he liked and wear it until it didn't fit or fell apart; a fancy batman button-up shirt made its way into 3 fall school pictures and 2 spring pictures. They each eventually moved on to dressing like young adults and making decisions as young adults - not always are these perfect decisions but I think that is part of becoming an adult.

Another parenting strategy was providing the kids with one "mental health day" per year. This year the day is mine to do something with my child that both of us would enjoy. Cormac and I went shopping, had lunch, and went to see a scary movie. For Owee, I did a hiking trifecta! This was a chance to hike in less than ideal weather and to try our hands at cooking on the go. Miranda's MHD is still TBD.

Documented hikes 4, 5, and 6 on October 22, 2012

Mount Talbert - 2.75 miles in 1:15. We got to the parking lot and camped out in the picnic area to learn how to use the camp stove and make some dehydrated breakfast! The trail winds through a protected area next to the freeway but you never see it. It seemed so rural at times and there were no other people on the trail; it could have been that it was a weekday or it could have been the rain keeping others away. Owee followed the map and lead the way.
 

Powel Butte - 2.72 miles in 1:11. The location was under construction so we walked through muddy detours, and 2 blocks of SE Portland just to get  to the lack of a trail head; the trail head was also under construction! This hike was also quiet with very few other walkers due to the rain and lack of a view. We goofed around a bit and talked about life and the trails that would be ahead of us.

Mount Tabor - Stairs meant only 1.15 miles in 40 minutes. I have heard great things about Mount Tabor, the weather was still bad but we stopped long enough at a picnic table and playground for Owee to heat up the water for our instant meals.. and then she devoured her lunch!

 

Even with being drenched to the bone she pressed on and helped motivate me at times too. I think her favorite part was having her very own hydration pack to use.