Learning to Love Nature Again.

Children are so in touch with nature, I vaguely remember as a child my brother and I loved to play with little beasties we called 'roly polies'. As I got older though beasties became disgusting and creepy to me and I would scream at the sight of just a tiny insect. I'm not sure at what age I lost my interest of nature. I remember in 8th grade I went on a trip called outward bound with some classmates. It was the most rewarding experience of my life, I learned so much and got so much out of it. I really enjoyed being in nature and I didn't mind lying on the ground, it never even occured to me what could crawl all over me, I was there in the middle of nature and none of natures living creatures bothered me one tiny bit, not even the mosquitos.

I have recently become a member of the rspb nature reserve and my eldest child has began showing an interest in beasties. I can remember as toddlers the sight of an insect would set them screaming (probably my own doing.) but watching now as they pick up little creatures and handle them lovingly, gently I feel proud. we are all learning about nature when we visit the rspb, not just the kids and I am really enjoying it. It brings back those lost memories of roly polies. It's not just the beasties though, touching plants and recognizing their different smells and textures. As a child I would pick anything out of the ground but as an adult picking any plant leaves me thinking I need to wash my hands. I don't want my children to feel that way. I don't even want to feel that way anymore. I want to get back to nature enjoy every bit of it. use all 5 senses - touch taste smell see and hear! I don't want to panic and feel I need to rush inside when it rains. I want to enjoy every bit of the weather for weather is a very important part of nature! So I am about to buy waterproofs for all the family so that we CAN enjoy nature the way we should. We will not stay home on rainy days anymore. Many interesting creatures come out when it is raining and we will be joining them.

I am learning to love nature all over again and I hope that my children will never forget how to love nature, I don't want them to get swept away by what society thinks is acceptable. Nature isn't dirty, it may be messy at times but it is wonderful and I don't want them to lose sight of that.