The outdoorsy mom behind this adventure I like to call My Outdoorsy Mom.

Let me take you back a bit. Picture a typical American family on the hustle—me, a full-time working mom juggling daycare pickups, dinnertime chaos, and the bedtime shuffle for three little ones. Rinse and repeat, right?

Then, cue my lightbulb moment. During my maternity leave with our third kiddo, I stumbled upon a book that rocked my world: "There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather" by @rainorshinemamma on Instagram.

This book opened my eyes to how Scandinavian families embrace outdoor play from day one, reaping endless benefits for child development.

Inspired (and a little desperate), I decided it was time to give it a try! So, we started small. After work, instead of letting my kids zone out in front of the TV, we suited up in snow pants and spent 15 minutes outside every week day.

It was the middle of winter and to be honest, we hovered near the back door A LOT during those first few days of trying our new routine.

But guess what? Even just 15 minutes outside worked wonders for my toddlers! The whining decreased, and they began to uncover new ways to play and explore.

Week by week, our outdoor adventures grew—20 minutes here, 30 minutes there—until spring rolled around, and my kiddos were confidently playing outside while I kept watch from the kitchen window.

Let me tell you, those benefits piled up fast: increased creativity (inside and out), less TV during dinner prep (score!), more independent play, and even improved emotional regulation—for all of us.

Now, I get it—changing routines isn't easy. But trust me, the payoff is incredible. Start with just 10 or 20 minutes today. As a wise friend once told me, "You can do anything for 10 minutes!"

So, join me on this journey. Let's rediscover the joy of outdoor play and create lasting memories with our little adventurers. Together, we've got this! 💪

Cheers to embracing the great outdoors, one puddle jump at a time.

Warmly,