Lunatic / Urban / Country Mom has mild panic attack...

It had to happen sometime, a sort of close encounter with a snake, close enough to have me wanting to pack. LOL

It was on our way to taking Josh to nursersy school. There in the road is a longish black snake. I go around it but on second thoughts reverse as it is heading straight to our property. As I reverse and stop the slithering bugger decides he will raise and flatten his head. Here's me.....OMG, It's a cobra....(city girl reaction of course) and a (list of silent profanities follow). It heads into the veld and is now on the same stretch of land we're on. OMG, Omg, omg!!!! We get to school with the boys excited and one mom (me) rattled. After chatting to one mom, it turns out it's not a cobra. (Here's me silenty praying it's harmless) . But hope suddenly fades as she states it's definitely a Rinkhals - *Gasp* *Splutter* *you're kidding -- right*, more silent profanities take place in my head. Okay, so they are of the fatal kind!! I can do this. I can still believe in outdoor play and not P*A*N*I*C!! NO!! I panic!!

So one step forward and a zillion back. One slithery snake has me bolting the doors. Irrational or not - until I have a suitable POA (Plan of Action) that I am comfortable with. The boys will not be outside unless I am with them. One Garmin about to be programmed with every route to every available emergency room close to home and maybe some calls to Dr's rooms nearby to find out if they are prepared for snake bites.

I can do this.........................

Uhhm, no I can't. Just looked in my dictionary:

Rinkhals noun a large poisonous spitting cobra. (from Dutch)

The importance of outdoor play

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Save+the+world--play+outside.-a0178894350

As a mom to two boys I am slowly awakening to the importance of outdoor play. When I think back on my childhood and the memories made, alot was at my Nan's playing outdoors under the loquat tree. We spent many hours making mud pies and climbing trees. Holidays spent at the beach investigating rock pools. As we got older the many hikes we went on, and the weekends spent outdoors.

I think as I've grown up and reached adulthood I've forgotten how to play outdoors and just how much fun it can be. I think back on some parents I have met and wonder. The comments of 'No, they are not allowed to dig in the sand', 'No, jungle gyms are not safe', No, no, no!! I think that is sad! It is time reclaim those feelings, it is time to reconnect with Mother Nature and ensure my boys enjoy being outdoors and the many things the outdoors have to offer.

The sandpit is definitely a step in the right direction. Last night I had to drag them inside. LOL It was getting dark and cold. I didn't mind the dark - it was the cold that had we worried.

On the Echidna (Agenda) I love the new word - Thanks James.

* A visit to the botanical gardens
* Some nature walks in our area
* Making Journals
* Time to catch and look at some bugs. Eweeee!! Will I survive. :))
* Investigate plants
* Learn while having fun doing all of this!!