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INDEX
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Rocks, Kids, and Duct Tape
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While I may have rocks in my pockets, I definitely have a method to my madness. The arrival of my children put a few kinks in my rock collecting, but only temporarily. Parenting, after all, is survival of the sneakiest. Catchy title I think, watch for
my book on the subject.
Anyway, having children shouldn't stop you from doing what you want or going where you would like to go. It just takes some planning and preparation. This is something that you would do anyway...right?
My kids have been in board rooms, at political rallies, on planes, trains, boats, and other forms of transportation since the beginning. I took the lead from my own parents on this subject. If I couldn't take my kids with me, then I didn't want to go. Now
this doesn't mean that the kids go to every single outing with their parents, but it means that they can go to nearly all of them.
You begin by evaluating the raw material (your own offspring), the destination (preferably a non lethal one), and your logistical support system.
The first thing to plan is the destination. Where are you going? Then how long will you be there? For a day trip, it's not so hard. Actually, it's like a long day at the mall. Remember that you can go anywhere with your children if you are determined
enough and are willing to spend a little time in planning the event. The object of the game is to go out and have fun, then come back and tell tall tales about it.
Don't take your children where they will be a physical liability to you or anyone else. It ruins a Park Ranger's day to have to hike way back into the hills because of stupidity. When you do a dumb thing, someone has to go get your carcass. Would you take
your kids into harm's way? No. Think first.
So, when you are planning the trip, also plan on getting back. Simple...right? You would be surprised at how many planning sessions that I have been to where no one mentioned just how they were going to get home. The ride to the trail head was a piece
of cake, but who was going to pick you up at the other end just disappeared into thin air. Until, the facilitator (moi) gently brings up the subject... One of my favorite trips was a caving junket where my husband drove me to the meeting point, dropped
me (and kids) off, then went to his hotel and waited until it was time to go and meet us at the arranged place. His attitude at the time was 'No Room Service, No Go'. But he was a good sport about driving me around, and even picking me up. He was my ace
in the hole.
The next thing to consider is how are you getting to your destination? Are you driving yourself, or riding in another vehicle? Is there enough room to carry the items that you need to take? Do you need a four wheel drive vehicle? Are your children still
using car seats? Seats belts are a must. This is a particular hot spot for me. My children were raised under the philosophy of 'No belt, no go'. As they got older, all of their friends came to understand that when riding with me, all belts were fastened.
I am still amazed by the number of people who ignore this safety measure.
Why are you going to this specific place? Is there a point to the trip other than fun? Having a plan helps. That way you can assign tasks (like having fun) to every person and everyone knows who is responsible for what before the outing begins. When you
travel with kids, planning makes the difference between having fun, having no fun, and mopping up a big mess. There is nothing wrong in going out to have fun, but don't over-schedule the time so that no one has fun. Picking up rocks is fun. They are the
bones of our Mother Earth.
What does all that mean? Let's talk physiology and human nature.
Infants have to be carried. Are you willing to cart the weight around in the outback? Or are you willing to leave junior with a sitter? Infants generally require different feeding arrangements. Can you provide for the feedings and still maintain good
cheer? Easier said than done in the wilds. If you are bottle feeding, you need distilled water (not spring water and definitely never local tap water) to guarantee that the baby doesn't experience gastrointestinal upset thereby guaranteeing that the
entire trip is a nightmare. Can you carry the water or make sure that you have regular supply stops that have distilled water? If you are not bottle feeding, remember that means that Momma has to have extra fluids, too. Again, can you carry the weight on
your back; or do you have room to pack the extras in your vehicle?
Infants are just as curious as any other age group, and what makes them dangerous is that they have to be watched at all times. This should be standard operating procedure at home, but in the hills it is imperative. Infants love to play touchy-feelie,
then they play tastie-tastie. There's a lot of unhealthy stuff out there for them to put in their mouths. Be very careful.
I took my kids to the Sheffield Mine in Franklin, NC, when the baby was 8 months old. To reach the sluice line you have to go down a hill and into a nice clearing. We carried the porta crib down the hill and set it up next to the sluice line. In July, the
air temperature is hot and the water is cold. A perfect combination for having fun. I washed mud through stainless steel mesh to find the sapphires and the baby splashed in the water. She had a grand time and when she got tired she simply laid down and
went to sleep because Momma was right there. Momma got a small jar of star sapphires before the day was over. Probably not gem stone quality, but real none the less. BTW, I also made sure that the kid didn't eat any of the mud.
Okay, we go on to Toddlers and Adolescents. Very dangerous. These kids are mobile and looking for stuff to get into. A long drive with them can sour the entire outing if you don't keep them fed and occupied. Assemble a bag with items that they have never
seen before and give it to them when they get in the car, not before. Have a second bag for the return trip. Coloring books, crayons and little silly things aren't too expensive and they will make things much easier on your nerves. Plan stops and have
snacks already measured into individual containers. Getting out of the car at regular intervals can save your sanity, but it may also impact the distance that you can go. On one trip to Florida, I think we stopped at every single rest area between Atlanta
and Tampa for some reason or another. Didn't think we would ever get there. Don't feed the kids snacks with too much sugar or salt, either.
This age group loves to sing. So, sing! We traveled long distances without arguments or disagreements (the 'she looked at me' type of nonsense) because both kids were busy singing every silly song that we could think of. To this day we still sing in the
car, it's fun. Isn't that what a trip is supposed to be? Don't know any silly songs? Visit the library. Singing is the method by which the bulk of human history and tradition has been passed form one generation to the next. It works. Try singing the
multiplication tables with your kids. I've done it all.
Youngsters love lists and may or may not know how to read depending on their age. If they can't read yet, give them a list any way, only the list will have pictures on it instead of words. Let them 'find' things. Do you know how long a kid will lay on the
ground and stare at a square foot of grass? Hours. Ask them to count or identify what is in their square foot. Let them draw pictures of rocks or whatever. It keeps them busy and happy. It allows you get on with the business of rock hounding.
Teenagers are a category all by themselves. Age dependent, they may take part in the planning process of the trip. They have good ideas, ask them. Teens are stretching their intellectual and physical limits to the max. Remember who is in charge. They may
be insistent, but you have the overall responsibility for the safety of the group. Remember that Park Ranger? Well, lots of teenagers have had to be rescued because they were stupid and their parent/chaperone was stupid. Teens live in this moment and they
are immortal. As a parent, make sure that they live long enough to realize that they aren't. Picking up rocks, carrying rocks, digging for rocks is hard work. Let them do it!
We have covered rocks and kids, that leaves us with Duct Tape. Never leave home without it. The following is a partial list of things that you can do with Duct Tape that you can't do with a credit card.
- Wrap a split hose in the engine compartment.
- Fix a split seam in your pants 'cause you slide down one hill too many.
- Tailor your black trash bag into a custom fitted rain coat.
- Make a container to carry rock samples in.
- Silence whining children, six inches should do it.
- Wrap a sprained ankle until getting back to civilization.
- Repair that disposable diaper, the one with the missing tab.
Well, you get the idea. Now go and have fun with your children.
Need help planning that next outing? Write me, I'll be glad to help if I can.
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Copyright, 1997 by Jan Noble
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Writer, traveler, contract E/M designer, rockhound and Mom are only a few of the descriptions that apply to Jan Noble. When not on assignment, she lives in Atlanta with her
husband, two daughters, ten cats and two dogs.
Jan is a genuine lover of geology and enjoys taking her
children with her on field trips when ever time permits. She
always has rocks in her pockets and time to hear a good story.
Besides filling her time with rock hunting, writing and work,
she tutors her youngest daughter in home school. She's a
loving mother and talented writer.
Jan can be reached at inthewind@mindspring.com.
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