A ferryboat is a people carrier = my car.
In order to combat seasickness, we have started going on one new ferryboat adventure a week. One new place that we've never been. Just one. A new store, a new museum or a new park for example. Just somewhere totally new to us.
It is great for the Mates and honestly, I'm really excited about challenging myself this way. In all honesty, I hate to drive and most especially to new places. Like, really hate it. I could get lost! I could make a wrong turn! I'm such a nervous driver, always have been. I'm a total homebody at heart too, which doesn't help. However, I'm looking forward to exploring our area and stretching myself to expand my comfort zone. Expand what feels familiar and find new favorite places. We moved here a year ago and I feel like I've barely scratched the surface of what is available even in just a ten mile radius.
This week we checked out the Conejo Valley Botanical Garden and did it on my first day (followed by night) of solo parenting after writing my last post on choosing joy. It was joyful. Truly wonderful. We had a picnic and wandered around on the trails, smelling the desert sage we brushed up against.
Going on these adventures with the Mates has also done something I didn't expect. It has strengthened our bond. Ignighted a sense of comraderie even. We are in this together. It isn't a mama taking her two boys somewhere, it all of us, equally going on an adventure. Together. Which really is what parenting is all about. Or at least it can be.
I still hate to drive. Sticking to the familiar places still feels much easier. But stretching myself feels good. And I expect it will get easier with time. At the very least, our "familiar" places will have increased.
And the nice thing about going on a ferryboat adventure is that you can always hop back on and head home again.
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What are you doing to stretch yourself right now?
*sorry for the poor phone pictures, hey, it was my first official ferryboat adventure and I was packing light with no bulky camera!
