They Might Forget, But We Won’t: Why Little Adventures Matter for Parents (Part 2)

 

We’ve had some truly great adventures as a family.

We visited a kangaroo zoo where the kids got to pet them—my son’s face lit up when the kangaroo sniffed his hand.

We found that hidden creek with the small waterfall, and they spent hours splashing in the cold water and laughing until they were breathless.

And there was the day it snowed—really snowed—in Georgia. They bundled up in mismatched gear and flopped around in half-an-inch of snow like they’d moved to Alaska.

They might not remember all of it in detail when they’re older.

But I will.

Part 1: Why These Adventures Matter for Them

If you caught the first part of this series, you know I believe deeply in giving our kids these experiences—even if they’re little and forget the details.

They shape them.

• Build their brains.
• Teach resilience.
• Spark wonder.
• Strengthen our bonds.

They might forget the specifics, but they remember how it felt.

(check out the first part of this series here - https://evertrailco.com/blogs/news/will-they-even-remember-why-little-adventures-matter-for-growing-kids)

Part 2: Why It Matters Just As Much For Us

But there’s something I don’t think gets said enough:

Even if they forget these moments?

We don’t.

Those memories become ours, too.

We’re not just investing in our kids, we’re investing in ourselves as parents, as humans.

These small adventures change us just as much as they change them.

🧭 What the Research Says About Parents

This isn’t just my personal nostalgia talking even though I cherished the adventures I had with my oldest who is now an adult and miss that time greatly.

There’s good evidence that exploring and adventuring with our kids—even in small, simple ways—offers real benefits for us as parents.

✅ 1. Strengthening Bonds Through Shared Awe

When we watch them see something amazing for the first time—a kangaroo up close, a rushing waterfall, even falling snow—we’re sharing a moment of wonder.

Psychologists call this joint attention: both of you focused on something new together.

These shared experiences deepen attachment and trust.

(Source: Harvard Center on the Developing Child)

✅ 2. Practicing Mindfulness and Slowing Down

Kids don’t hike like adults.
They stop every two feet.
They ask questions about everything.

It can be frustrating—but it’s also an invitation to slow down.

Research shows that being present in these small details, like noticing animal tracks, the texture of snow, the shape of a leaf—reduces stress and promotes mindfulness. Which is true since both of my youngest kids seem to discover the smallest things like cool looking bugs.

(Source: Kaplan’s Attention Restoration Theory; APA on mindfulness)

✅ 3. Reducing Stress and Improving Mood

You don’t have to backpack in Yosemite to get the benefits.

Studies show that even brief time in green spaces or natural settings reduces cortisol, eases anxiety, and boosts mood.

• A local creek.
• A small zoo.
• A snowy backyard.

All count.

(Source: American Psychological Association, 2020)

✅ 4. Modeling Curiosity and Openness

When we say, “Let’s check it out!” or “I’ve never seen that before!”, we’re modeling that it’s okay to be curious which is why my daughter reads every single placard at the museums we go to. I don’t mind since we read them together as my wife chases my son down).

We’re showing our kids that learning doesn’t stop when you grow up.

And when we let ourselves play with them—even awkwardly—we deepen rapport and make parenting feel more connected.

(Source: Ginsburg, Pediatrics, 2007)

✅ 5. Building Our Family Story

Even if they forget, we remember.

These small adventures become the stories we tell (with the 1000’s of pictures my wife takes):

• “Remember the kangaroo sniffing your hair?”
• “That time you slipped and landed in the creek.”
• “When you made a snow angel with no snow pants.”

These memories are the glue of family belonging.

Research shows that families who tell and retell shared stories have stronger bonds and more resilient kids.

(Source: Fivush et al., family storytelling research)

🌿 Why It’s Worth It—For Both of Us

These little adventures matter because they help them grow.

But they matter just as much because they help us grow.

They make us better parents.
More patient (They really push that patience to the limits as well)
More present.
More connected.

They remind us why we’re doing all this in the first place.

Even when they forget the details, we’ll carry them with us forever.

Adventure Anywhere.
Because they might forget. But we won’t.

— EverTrail Co