5 Takeaways from Interviewing a Dozen Adventure Moms

She Who Wanders

Dec 14

What a privilege it’s been to connect with and interview these twelve women over the last six weeks! I feel super lucky to get the inside scope on everything from their favorite places to adventure to what keeps their energy levels up to what drives them to raise wild + adventurous kids. I was never interested in just discussing surfacy things with these ladies. I wanted to go deep and really get to the heart of who they are. Aren’t we all tired of hanging around on the surface anyway? I’m so thankful they were willing to dive deep and go there with me, and I hope they have inspired you as much as they have me! Read on for 5 takeaways that stuck with me after spending time with these awesome adventure moms…

Takeaway #1: Lean Into Fear

I talk about fear quite often because being able to name it for what it is and step through it is the key to everything. From fear of taking the leap to homeschool to taking the kids around the world to Thailand to booking our first long international trip, I always feel the sharp pang in my gut and wonder not only if it’s the right decision, but will it even work out? It’s scary to take risks! But so many of these women show that the greatest risks come with the greatest rewards.

My very first feature, Cassidy, shared about being afraid to visit a rumoured-to-be dangerous country (almost even cancelling her flights!), but packing up her family + going anyway, proving to herself and the world that there is good and beauty everywhere! Along those same lines, Marae talked about coping with her fear by remember that almost everything we do in life can carry fear with it, even navigating life at home on a normal basis! But we can challenge ourselves to find joy and seek out the lessons when we’re afraid, rather than being crippled by it.

My dream is that we can stand on the shoulders of other women who have taken big risks and know that we too can live the life we envision. If only we’re willing to take the leap and see fear for what it is: a necessary part of any grand adventure.

Takeaway #2: Start Small

You know when something is a recurring theme across people and time, you really have to pay attention! I’ll be honest - I don’t like starting small. I’m more of an all or nothing kind of gal. But that often gets me in trouble because when I try to go big but I’m not fully ready for it, I can find myself frustrated and in the end - stuck. When asked how to get out of the grind and start having more meaningful adventures with your kids/family, Marquita encourages moms to start small and close to home. If you’re nervous, you know that you’re close to home if anything unexpected happens. Those little decisions to just start, even if it’s somewhere local or just a day trip, build up your confidence and as they accumulate, show you that you can do anything. Which, let’s be honest - is true for anything in life!

This is a great way to get back to doing things you enjoy as a person, not just a mom too - just a little bit at a time. As Tara said, taking those little steps out of your comfort zone is where all the growth and magic happen. Over time, you gain confidence and realize what you’re truly capable of!

Takeaway #3: Everything is Figureoutable (also one of my favorite books btw)

Do you ever drag your feet or hesitate to do something because you just aren’t sure how it’ll all work? You overthink and analyze the details, and in the end talk yourself out of an experience because of all the what ifs and obstacles that seem to be in the way. It’s so easy to do because let’s face it - most things in life have a lot of unknowns and a lot that can go wrong! Courtney shared about traveling as a celiac. To do what she loves, she always finds a way around the challenges. Like staying in homes in local neighborhoods as opposed to the resort so she could cook her own food, and in the end having a magical experience of connecting with people and experiences she never could have planned on her own. It turns out, the obstacles that keep us discouraged are often the gateway to our best experiences. But we have to let go of control and trust that we have what we need to overcome any problem.

Takeaway #4: Trust the kids

This one is probably my favorite reminder I’ve gotten from my time with these ladies, and over time I’ve become a huge advocate for trusting our kids to know what they need + what they’re capable of! Having 3 wild boys to adventure with, Jessica, is a huge inspiration in learning to go with the flow and let our kids push their own boundaries because as she says - they’ll gain confidence and independence they can’t get anywhere else! I’ve shared in the past that one of the top traits I want my kids to develop is confidence in their own opinions, beliefs and abilities. With the world constantly sending us a million different messages, knowing we can trust our own intuition is SO crucial to a successful life. If that means letting my girl jump off a cliff (that I know is relatively safe) into a freezing cold canyon pool, then give me a blindfold, and let’s go haha. I will admit, this one of still hard for me - especially in relation to my more daredevil-ish kids. But it’s worth it to see the effect it has on them! I’m willing to sacrifice my own comfort to let them build that trust in themselves.

Takeaway #5: Stop the Waiting

Don’t wait around for the perfect moment to live more deeply, slowly or meaningfully for yourself or your family. You don’t have to go on grand adventures far away or have epic plans. The greatest thing you can do is choose to protect your family’s priorities no matter what comes, and have the courage to say both YES to some opportunities, but also NO to others. When you know your family/personal vision, VALUES, mission and why, your gut will guide you on the path to living your most vibrant, meaningful life, along with your family. Whatever you do, make sure that every decision you make and every thing you choose comes from YOU and not what society or other people do, think or say. As Allison said, “I never realized until we started the nomadic lifestyle how much of my personal and family decisions were based on society/family expectations. It was really shocking, especially when it came to how we spent our time. It’s one of the lessons I have taken to heart….even if my audience never travels, I want to inspire them to be more connected to what they want out of life and encourage them to go after it.