TAKING IN THE SIGHTS

A move to the country brings new adventures for Kate

There are several amazing benefits to country living, but the impact on the kids is the most noticeable. Yes, I could rave about the greenery, the birdsong, the animals and the majesty of the trees. Towering, strong, majestical structures, allowing light to dance through their leaves and birds to nest in their branches, and providing an ever-changing seasonal view. The trees take my breath away.

But the biggest impact for the kids that I’ve noticed is the lack of screen time. To begin with, packing the chargers and laptops was the primary concern for the kids. God forbid they’d arrive at a rural location and not be able to log into a screen. There was much consternation about getting the Wi-Fi on and concerns around whether it would be everywhere they needed it to be. But what I’ve noticed is that the screens are coming out of the cupboard less often.

There are new discoveries to be made – neighbours, horses, rope swings over streams, long bush walks, local markets and the beach. The time spent discovering and indulging in all of these things means by the time the gumboots roll back in the door, a screen hasn’t even been turned on.

My daughter, who was busy cartwheeling and doing gymnastics tricks in a paddock, stopped to look up at me at one point and said, “Mum, I just realised I haven’t even looked at my phone or laptop all day!”

While the thought briefly occurred to her mid-cartwheel, she was soon back to walkovers and flips, not giving it a second thought.

It also feels like there’s more time. Time to bake, time to walk, and time to stop, breathe and take in the natural beauty. Things we tend not to do in the city, where our lives are packed and busy.

Country kids are a different breed too. The ones we’ve met are good at things like eye contact and manners. They’re positive and adventurous, and know how to get around gates, fences and farms. They’re practical. They know how to work basic equipment. I find this immensely refreshing given I could name teenagers not too far from me who don’t even know how to turn on a washing machine. But kids way younger than them know their way around tractors, ride-on mowers, cowsheds and horse saddles.

Even my squeamish daughter, who’d ordinarily leap a mile high at the sight of a spider, was brazenly picking up field mice the cats had dragged in and popping them back outside. She brushed off her hands like she’d been picking up mice all her life.

There is much to love about a slower pace, the appreciation of the beautiful country we live in, the vistas, the smell of fresh, clean country air, the homebottled jams and chutneys that neighbours leave at your gate, and the fresh flowers. It’s almost like going back in time, which is so good for the soul and has been so great for the kids.

So when they say being in the countryside is about unplugging, I can confirm that’s literally what it is. Bliss!