Looking Towards the Future
My new daughter, Abby, as of this writing, is only four months old. But I can’t help but think about our future hunting and fishing trips together. Actually, they don’t even have to be hunting and fishing trips; I simply just can’t wait to share the whole outdoor experience with her.
I’m not trying to rush things, because as many of you know, these early years go by too fast anyway. But I just can’t help but imagine what our future outdoor endeavours will hold. I also hope that she loves the outdoors as much as her mom and I do. I think by starting her early we will help with that.
I wonder how she will handle the whole outdoor experience. Will she embrace it like Tom did, after being shown the ropes by his Dad? Will she fall asleep during it, like Jeff’s son from Lowcountryhunting.com? (If any of you haven’t seen those pictures yet, you definitely need to click on over and check them out). Will she have a slight fear of the outdoors, like my cousin’s daughter did, and develop a fear of big bucks after dark? Or will she simply dig her heels in, kill her first buck, and load it in the truck like Elizabeth did when she was 15?
All of these things, of course, remain to be seen. I just can’t really stop myself from wondering what outdoor experiences we will share. I hope that all of them are fond memories for her, and I hope that we continue to make those memories right through adulthood.
It is honestly okay with me if she chooses not to hunt or fish. I do hope that she has some sort of love for the outdoors, though – whether it be camping, hiking, kayaking, or whatever.
It’s too bad I couldn’t look into my crystal ball and see what the future holds. I guess that would eliminate half the fun, though, wouldn’t it? Because as we share the outdoors together, and I get to show her the outdoors for her first time, that is how the memories will get created.
And not knowing what the future holds only adds to the excitement and wonder. As the weather starts warming up, the time only gets closer for her first real outdoor experience.
I know she won’t remember it, but her Mom and I certainly will for the rest of our lives..
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By taking her out at a young age, you’ll be starting her off right! If she is anything like my oldest daughter, she will be bringing in snakes, bugs, fogs, etc… at age two! My daughter insisted that she watch me field dress a deer at age 9, so she would know what to do when she harvested her first deer she told me! Start’em young and they will do the rest! You’ll be a great outdoors father!
My brother recently had a daughter, and I can’t wait to buy her one of those little pink Crickett rifles. Of course, at 7 months old, it’s a little early. But, it’s not too early for my nephew who will be 8 soon. Unfortunately, while he loves shooting at the shooting gallery at his local Bass Pro, his mother is anti-gun and father doesn’t have enough time or energy to really fight that battle.
Of course, my mom and I periodically take some potshots – like the year we signed him up for a youth NRA membership. And next year we’re going to try and get him out to the NRA meeting since it will be within driving distance.
I have no doubt in my mind that she will love and appreciate the outdoors. Of course, whether she chooses to hunt or fish remains to be seen, but your love and respect for the natural world deeply shows through your writing. Environment plays a big factor in a young one’s life, if nothing else, I’m sure that after watching you and your wife, she’ll grow up with a deep respect for the outdoors.
Oh Arthur, the experiences you guys will have… you just wait! Glad to see you so excited about them, and I can’t wait to see what all you guys come up with to do there in MI with Abby.
And while our boys seem like they are definitely going to be hunters, like you, I really don’t care if they ever kill an animal or not. As long as they have an appreciation for nature, that is all I can ask…
Also, like you said, don’t get too carried away trying to speed things up. We just got the form yesterday in the mail to sign Bo up for school this fall! I have a feeling that is going to cut into our outdoor time
It’s nice to see how excited you are to share your love for the outdoors with your daughter. I’m sure she will be just as excited when she reaches the age of tagging along.
You’re a wise man Arthur to realize all you can do is introduce her to the outdoor culture and at the very least she will respect it. At the most she will be your hunting buddy. My oldest son shared many a hunting camps with me, but after marriage,(I don’t want to second guess the why) he has limited himself to fly fishing which I don’t have the patience for. I’m glad he has found an outdoor experience that fits his little families life style, but I still miss him in camp.
I think Abby is lucky to have you and your wife to introduce her to the outdoors. You seem to know that you need to let her find her own way, and I’m confident she will.
Cherish every moment you can. I have taken my son out shed hunting with me last season and he had such a good time that I finally had to say it was time to go.
Keeping them involved is a very good thing as long as they go at their own pace. You really have something to look forward to.
I suppose there’s a remote chance she wouldn’t take to hunting – not everyone can handle the killing – but it’s hard to imagine the outdoors won’t be a vital part of her life. I am envious of your little girl!
It certainly will be exciting to see how our children grow in their appreciation for the outdoors as they get older. Right now Sugar is only 17 months old and she already loves to play outside! I hope she hunts and fishes as an adult but even if she doesn’t I’ll be happy if she just has a love and appreciation for the outdoors and an understanding of nature!