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Why Having a Baby Doesn't Mean the End of Adventure

It means even bigger adventures, and precious memories made showing your little one the things and places that you love.

By: Anna Cohen + Save to a List

When we found out that I was pregnant with our first child, my husband and I vowed that it would not mean the end of adventure for us. Rather than sidelining our excursions in the mountains, our road trips through wide open spaces, and our days spent swinging a fly rod overhead in wild creeks, we would incorporate our son into our lifestyle. Easier said than done, we were told.

Now that my son is six months old, I’m here to tell you that it can be done…it has been done. Having a baby doesn’t mean the end of doing what you love. It doesn’t mean the suppression of your passions and a completely selfless existence devoid of fun. Sure, being a parent means making sacrifices in pretty much every area of your life in some way, shape, or form. But one of the most fun and satisfying parts of parenthood is taking your little one along for the ride and showing him or her what you love doing.

When our son was four weeks old, my husband and I loaded up our truck with outdoor gear and baby gear (A LOT of baby gear), and hit the road. We went on a week-long road trip from Washington state to Montana, where we took our newborn fly fishing on some of our favorite rivers, did a bit of hiking, and showed him the mountains and landscapes that we love so dearly.

People laughed in disbelief and shook their heads with a bemused twinkle in their eye when we told them of our plans to take our four week old son on a fly-fishing, road trip adventure. Admittedly, we were a bit nervous and were pretty certain that we were more than a little crazy for attempting such a trip with a newborn. But the trip was so good for us…it showed us that we could still do all of the things that we love, and that our son can enjoy and experience them with us. If we had let our fear of traveling with a newborn hold us back, we would have never known how wonderful adventuring with our baby boy could be.

Now, we have so many incredible memories and photographs from that trip to look back on. Our son celebrated his one month birthday catching his first fish on a fly, strapped to his daddy’s chest. We dipped his little newborn toes in the warm, babbling waters of my husband’s and my favorite creek near our family property in the mountains, baptizing him into the adventure-life. He stared, wide-eyed at us, and looked around at the beautiful surroundings - perfectly content, and completely enraptured with the wild…just like his parents are. Since that first trip, we have taken our son on many adventures, some involving several plane rides. It is possible to travel and explore with a baby, and so very worth the effort.

Having a baby doesn’t mean the end of your passions, your hobbies, or your adventures. It means even bigger adventures, and precious memories made showing your little one the things and places that you love. As in most things in life, if you push through your fear and through the obstacles, the rewards are rich and long-lasting.

We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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