Taking kids climbing a mountain is the best way to teach them about natural consequences. There are many teachable moments for parents and learning opportunities for kids, as well as an amazing time in nature together. 

My wife told me, “Don’t come back,” just as my son and I were about to leave to climb a mountain. My answer was “I hope not.”

A couple of months ago, we left for a climb in the evening. We were about to challenge one of the most strenuous courses in the Japan Alps, and we prepared for years. The conversation between my son and me got so heated in the car that we decided to head home. Well, I decided to head back. That surprised my wife, who was already asleep. So that is why she was saying “Don’t come back!” to us instead of “Come home safely.”  I am sure that you guys have similar experiences with your kids. 

It takes about 4 hours to get to the trailhead from my house. It is always a good opportunity for my son and me to chat. We are talking about how he feels about his big exam next month, to how we feel about what’s going on in the world. We talked about how lucky we are to have an amazing family. 

It was a perfect day to go mountain climbing. A blue sky and no clouds, and very warm for January. 

Well, guess what? We couldn’t reach the top of Mt. Akadake. We did not leave on time, so we arrived at the base lodge very late. But we had a great walk-and-talk in nature. I think my wife is proud of me. My son and I made a different choice this time.  I knew we would not have enough time (enough to climb safely) to climb Mt. Akadake. But it was enough for us to talk about and face the natural consequences of our actions and the choices we made. 

If we had gone to climb Mt. Akadake from the time we left, it would have been the kind of climbing I don’t like. It means we probably don’t have time to stop and enjoy the scenery or the conversations. We don’t have time to pay attention to the details of what we see and take photos. Just needed to push and rush. In fact, we did not stop to rest first 3 hours to get to the base lodge. It was already 10:00am. We should have been there by 8:00am. In fact, many climbers were coming down to the base lodge from the peak. 

My son and I are starting to have a good conversation, and I wanted to continue that. When my son and I go climbing, that brings out feelings that don’t usually arise in our daily life. It may be an opportunity to make big changes in our daily lives. Put them into action and incorporate the determination into our daily lives. Sometimes, changing your daily life is more difficult than embarking on a big adventure.

On the way home, we did not take a highway. We took the local roads home. Just having more conversations with my son. But my son fell asleep in the passenger seat. 

After he came home from the trip, he unpacked his gear and went to sleep. Now, he is working on something with a cardboard box in his room. I think he is working to build something to help himself finish his middle school year strong.

It was not the climb we expected, but we came home feeling well rested and more respected for each other. 

He used the green backpack for the climb, and I gave it to him when he started climbing a mountain with me. Wow, time flies.