13 July 2023
Anna sighs. The children's summer holidays are already upon us and she and Mo just have to work those first 3 weeks. How are they going to solve this again. It's impossible to send Aram and Kim on a camp or stay over that whole time. And entertaining each other the two of them often doesn't go well either. Anna well remembers organising a game marathon, which ended with lots of arguments and cranky children. Maybe it would be better to find an activity, where the children can be busy themselves and she can work there? The advantage of her office job is that it can be done anytime, anywhere!
`That night Anna is looking for what they can do. Swimming? No, way too wet... Then again, her laptop is not built for that. Miniature golf? No...! That will cause the same problems as the games marathon. It has to be something where there is no competition involved, which a 10-year-old girl likes and a 13-year-old boy likes too. That adolescent age is tricky, especially when you have to do something with your "little" sister.... Anna can't figure it out. "Mo, you help!". Mo looks or from his laptop and shrugs. "Sailing? Beach? Or it to the forest?" Anna has no use for that either. But that forest might be nice. No full sun and maybe even a degree cooler than anywhere else. What activity can you do in the forest? Anna googles: "activity kids forest independently". She is curious to see what comes out.
The climbing forest, that does sound like fun! Would Aram and Kim like that? "Mo, look at this! Is this what?" "Yaaa, I bet they would love that! Can they do that unaccompanied?"
Anna looks at the website and sees that children are allowed to climb on their own, provided an adult is present. That's convenient, she can work and the children have fun. And secretly she is happy too, with that fear of heights she wouldn't even want to go herself!
The following week, Anna booked the tickets and drives to the forest with Aram and Kim. The kids did not yet know what they were going to do and reluctantly sat in the car. Aram would rather have gone gaming and Kim wanted to make a new bracelet. They hear screaming and a crazy whooshing sound. Aram and Kim look up, "What's that?!" They see several people floating above their heads, which is cool! "Mum, are we going to do that?" Anna smiles, it seems to be a good choice.
They report to the ticket office and are explained the rules and which routes can be climbed. Just to be sure, Anna tells them that she is not climbing with them, but that is not a problem. As long as she is present in the forest, the kids can climb on their own. The kids go with the instructor and get an explanation. Anna installs herself on a picnic bench and secretly watches her kids do it. They are watching intently and paying close attention. Just a little bit more on the demo track and then they get to try it for real!
With red cheeks of exertion and fun, Aram and Kim approached Anna after a climbing route. "How great it is, mum! Do you really have to work? Otherwise maybe you can join too!" Anna smiles, secretly it looks quite fun, maybe she can continue working tonight? Quickly Anna runs to the ticket office and asks if there happens to be another ticket for her. There is, thankfully, but she still has to follow instructions. Aram and Kim quickly start climbing the next route and in the meantime Anna can follow the instruction.
After instruction, Aram and Kim drag Anna along to climbing route Orange 3. Full of confidence, Kim and Aram climb ahead. Anna climbs up, but still swallows once more. It is a bit higher than expected after all... "Come on, mum! You can do this! Just look ahead, just look at us". Anna doesn't want to give in and steps onto the next part anyway. It gets easier and easier! After a few more routes, climbing time is over. But they're all tired too, so that's no problem.
Quickly in the car home. When Mo gets home, they recount what the day was like in all colours. That evening, Mo climbs behind the laptop and immediately books tickets for another climbing forest. On the next day they are all free, he wants to go climbing too!
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