Today was one of those days that reminded me just how much I love being a mom and how special the simplest adventures can become when you get to experience them with your child. With fall officially here, the leaves beginning to change, and all the seasonal activities happening around us, I decided that my daughter and I were going to get out of the house and enjoy a little autumn adventure together. Our plans for the day included apple picking and visiting a pumpkin patch, two activities that have always felt like such a special part of the fall season. What started as a simple idea to get outside and enjoy the day turned into another memory that I’ll be able to look back on as my little girl continues growing up.
There’s something about October that makes everything feel a little more exciting, especially when you have a toddler. The cooler weather, the beautiful fall colors, the pumpkins decorating nearly every corner, and the opportunity to participate in seasonal traditions makes this one of my favorite times of the year. But experiencing those things as a mother has given them an entirely different meaning. Activities that I might have enjoyed casually before having a child now feel so much more special because I get to see the world through my daughter’s eyes. Things that seem completely ordinary to us as adults can be fascinating to a two-year-old, and being able to share those experiences with her is something I genuinely cherish.
Our little fall adventure included spending time at the apple orchard, where we could enjoy the fresh air, walking among the apple tree, and take part in one of the most recognizable traditions of the season. Apple picking is one of those activities that doesn’t need to be complicated to be enjoyable, and I love the idea of taking something as simple as picking fruit and turning it into a special memory. Instead of rushing through the day or worrying about everything waiting for me at home, I wanted us to take our time and enjoy being outside together. There’s something so refreshing about getting away from the usual routine, especially when so much of everyday life revolves around work, school, appointments, and responsibilities.
Of course, one of the best parts of taking a toddler anywhere is remembering that they experience everything a little differently than we do. What might seem like a straightforward activity to an adult can become an entire adventure for a little one who is still learning about the world. At two years old, my daughter is at such a fun stage where her personality continues to develop, her independence becomes more noticeable, and everyday experiences give her opportunities to learn something new. I love knowing that outings like these allow her to explore different environments, experience new things, and enjoy time with me outside of our normal routine.
After apple picking, our fall adventure also included a trip to the pumpkin patch, which is another one of those seasonal traditions that I absolutely love. There’s something about seeing pumpkins of all different shapes and sizes, surrounded by beautiful autumn scenery, that makes the season feel complete. Whether you’re searching for the perfect pumpkin, enjoying the decorations, or simply taking in the atmosphere, pumpkin patches have a way of bringing out that familiar excitement that comes with fall. And getting to experience that atmosphere with my daughter made the outing even more meaningful.
I think one of my favorite things about motherhood is realizing how quickly little moments become memories. Before having my daughter, I don’t think I fully understood just how emotional it could be to watch someone grow up right in front of you. One minute, you’re holding this tiny newborn who depends on you for absolutely everything, and before you know it, you’re planning pumpkin patch adventures with a two-year-old who is developing her own personality, interests, and opinions. It’s such a beautiful experience, but it also makes you realize how quickly time moves and how important it is to appreciate the stage of life you’re currently in.
My daughter just celebrated her second birthday last month. and I still find myself wondering how two entire years have already passed. It genuinely feels like yesterday that I was preparing to welcome her into the world, imagining what motherhood would look like and wondering about all the milestones we’d eventually experience together. Now, here we are, creating memories during another fall season, and I can’t help but think about how different things will look this time next year. She’ll be another year older, another year more independent, and another year closer to becoming the little girl she’s growing into.
That’s why days like today mean so much to me.
I know my daughter is still young, and she may not remember every detail of our apple picking adventure or our visit to the pumpkin patch when she’s older. She probably won’t remember every place we visited when she was two or all the little activities we did together, but that doesn’t make those experiences any less important. These moments are helping create the childhood I want her to have, one filled with love, laughter, seasonal traditions, and opportunities to experience the world around her.
And even if she doesn’t remember everything, I certainly will.
I’ll remember making the effort to plan little adventures for us, watching her grow from one season to the next, and appreciating the opportunity to experience so many of life’s simple pleasures together. I’ll remember how much I looked forward to creating traditions with her and how exciting it felt to finally be the mom taking her little girl to the kinds of places I always imagined visiting with my own children someday.
One thing I’ve been thinking about lately is how easy it can be to get caught up in the responsibilities of everyday life and forget to make time for experiences like these. Between working, attending college, completing assignments, and taking care of everything that comes with being a parent, it sometimes feels like there aren’t enough hours in the day to accomplish everything I need to do. There is always something that needs attention, something that needs to be finished, or another responsibility waiting around the corner. But today was a reminder that not every free moment has to be a spent catching up on working or worrying about the next thing on my schedule.
Sometimes, it’s perfectly okay to set the responsibilities aside for a few hours and simply enjoy being a mom.
And I think that’s something more parents deserve to hear.
We put so much pressure on ourselves to make sure everything is taken care of, to provide for our children, to maintain our homes, to work towards our goals, and to somehow manage every responsibility without missing a beat. But somewhere in the middle of all that, it’s important to remember that our children aren’t going to stay little forever. There will eventually come a day when they won’t need us to help them with every little thing, when they’ll have their own schedules and interests, and when the activities we once did together will become memories from their childhood.
I don’t want to look back someday and wish I had more time for the little things.
I want to be able to say that I took my daughter apple picking, that we visited pumpkin patches, that we celebrated holidays together, and that we made the most of the seasons as they came and went. I want to create traditions that she can look forward to every year, even if those traditions are as simply as picking out pumpkins in October, decorating for Christmas, or finding something fun to do together when the weather is beautiful.
Because when I think about the childhood I want to give my daughter, I don’t necessarily think about the expensive vacations, extravagant gifts, or elaborate plans. Of course, those things can be wonderful, but I believe some of the most meaningful childhood memories come from experiences that are much simpler. It’s spending quality time together, exploring somewhere new, laughing over little things, and knowing that the people you love genuinely enjoy being around you.
That’s what I want for her.
I want her to grow up knowing that she never needed a special occasion for us to spend time together, and that making memories with her was always something I looked forward to. I want her to know that even while I was working toward my own goals and trying to build a better future for us, I was still making time to enjoy the present.
Because building a beautiful future for your children is important, but so is making sure they have a beautiful childhood to look back on.
And honestly, I think these little adventures are just as meaningful for me as they are for her.
Motherhood has taught me to appreciate things I probably would have overlooked before. It’s taught me that happiness doesn’t always come from major accomplishments or life-changing events, and that sometimes the most fulfilling moments happen during an ordinary afternoon spent doing something simple with someone you love. It’s also reminded me that childhood is made up of countless little experiences, many of which may seem insignificant in the moment but eventually become part of the story we tell about growing up.
Today wasn’t about doing anything extraordinary. We weren’t traveling somewhere far away or celebrating a major milestone. We were simply enjoying a fall day together, picking apples, visiting a pumpkin patch, and making another memory as mother and daughter.
And that was more than enough for me.
To the parents reading this, I want to encourage you to take advantage of these little opportunities whenever you can. You don’t have to spend a fortune or plan something extravagant to give your children experiences they’ll enjoy. Sometimes a trip to the park, an afternoon baking cookies, a walk through the neighborhood, or a visit to a local pumpkin patch can become just as meaningful as something you’ve spent months planning.
Take the pictures, even if your hair isn’t perfect or you’re not wearing the outfit you originally wanted. Participate in the activities, even if you feel a little silly doing them. Make the traditions, even if your children are still too young to fully understand why they’re special. One day, those photographs and memories will be reminders of a time in your life that passed much faster than you expected.
And please, don’t forget to enjoy those moments yourself.
I think parents sometimes become so focused on making sure their children are having a good time that they forget they’re allowed to have fun, too. You’re allowed to be excited about the pumpkin patch, enjoy picking apples, take a hundred photographs, and look forward to seasonal traditions just as much as your children do. In fact, I think part of what makes these experiences so special is getting to share that excitement together.
As for my daughter and me, today was another little adventure to add to our growing collection of memories. It was a chance to get outside, enjoy everything that makes fall such a beautiful season, and spend some quality time together without the usual distractions of everyday life. And while I’m sure there will be plenty more apple orchards, pumpkin patches, and autumn adventures in our future, there will only ever be one October when my daughter is two-years-old.
That thought alone makes today feel a little more special.
Next year, she’ll be three, and the year after that, she’ll be four. Every season will bring new experiences, new milestones, and another version of the little girl I’m watching growing up. As excited as I am to see who she becomes, there’s a part of me that wishes I could slow down time just enough to enjoy each stage a little longer.
But since I can’t slow down time, I can at least make the most of the moments we have.
And if there’s one thing today reminded me of, it’s that the best memories doesn’t always come from the biggest plans. Sometimes they come from an ordinary October afternoon, an apple orchard, a pumpkin patch, and a mother who is simply grateful to experience another beautiful season with her little girl.
So here’s to more fall adventures, more seasonal traditions, more pictures that I’ll probably look back on a thousand times, and more opportunities to experience the world with my daughter. Here’s to appreciating the little things, making time for the people we love, and remembering that the days that seem ordinary now may eventually become some of our most treasured memories.
And to my sweet girl, Charlotte, if you ever read these words when you’re older, I hope you know just how much I’ve loved every stage of watching you grow. From the moment you came into this world, you’ve given me countless reasons to smile, learn, and appreciate life in ways I never imagined. I hope that when you look back on your childhood, you’ll see more than just photographs of the places we visited. I hope you’ll see how much love went into every little adventure, every tradition, and every moment we spent together.
Today, we picked apples and visited a pumpkin patch. Someday, I’ll look back and realize that what we were really doing was collecting memories of a childhood that went by far too quickly.
And I wouldn’t trade these moments with you for anything in the world.
Until next time, enjoy the season, make the memories, and remember that sometimes the smallest adventures leave the biggest impressions on our hearts.
With love,
Between the Words
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