Looking for a simple spring activity to enjoy with your children? Strawberry picking with kids has become one of our favorite family traditions. This year, a sunny afternoon at the strawberry farm turned into one of those ordinary days that ended up becoming a favorite memory.
There are some days that take a lot of planning.
And there are days that remind you that the simplest things are often the most memorable.
A few days ago, we decided to go strawberry picking. After weeks of rain in the forecast, we finally saw one beautiful sunny day ahead and decided to make the most of it. Strawberry picking has become one of our favorite spring traditions, and we knew we couldn’t let the season pass us by.
I was working on my blog with a cup of warm tea beside me and the window cracked open. A light breeze drifted through the room when I suddenly remembered something.
Strawberry-picking season.
And we were about to have rain every day in the forecast.
I called my husband and suggested we go. He agreed right away.
Easier said than done.
The girls were still at school, my toddler needed to be ready, snacks had to be packed, water bottles filled, and somewhere along the way we completely forgot that my daughter’s violin lesson was that afternoon.
By the time everyone was finally home, excitement had taken over.
The girls practically flew through the door when I told them where we were going.
Then the doorbell rang.
Violin.
Oops.
We rushed through the lesson, laughed at our forgetfulness, and before we could change our minds, we were on our way.
Phew. What an adventure just getting out the door.
We usually visit early in the morning, when the farm is bustling with families. This time it was already late afternoon. No one at the fields by us. It was so different seeing everything so calm. We were so used to see lines of people waiting to buy tickets, and just trying to make happy memories like the rest of us.
The fields felt calm and peaceful, rows and rows of bright red strawberries stretched out before us.
The girls immediately ran ahead, searching for perfect berries hidden beneath the leaves.
While the girls raced through the rows searching for strawberries, my husband and I followed behind, enjoying the rare quiet moment.
Meanwhile, my toddler had concerns of her own.
The grass was touching her legs.
Apparently this was a serious problem.
She spent the first few minutes alternating between picking strawberries and protesting the existence of grass altogether.
Before long, the buckets began to fill.
As we had these beautiful strawberries in our buckets, kids also had them all over their outfits.
But clothes can be washed (hopefully).
The memories are what last.
After we finished picking, we wandered over to the animals.
My toddler became completely fascinated with one particular goat.
She would carefully walk toward it, reaching out to pet it.
The goat would calmly flick its tail and walk away.
So she followed.
Again.
And again.
The goat remained patient.
My toddler remained determined.
I’m still not sure which one was more stubborn.
The farm also had a giant jumping pillow built into the ground.
The girls immediately took off running toward it.
At first, I stood on the side watching.
Then I decided life is too short to always be the person holding the bags.
So I climbed on and started jumping with them.
For a few minutes, I forgot about work, laundry, emails, and everything waiting for me at home.
I felt like a kid again.
We laughed, bounced until our legs were tired, and raced to the giant slides afterward.
As we went down together, it suddenly felt less like a farm and more like one of those perfect afternoons in your own backyard where nobody is watching the clock.
By the time we loaded four buckets of strawberries into the car, my husband and I couldn’t help but laugh.
We had picked far more than we needed.
But maybe that wasn’t the point.
The point wasn’t the strawberries.
It was spending the day outdoors together.
It was following a stubborn goat around the farm.
It was laughing on giant slides and jumping until our legs hurt.
The strawberries will eventually be eaten.
The memories will stay much longer.
The drive home was filled with tired smiles, red-stained fingers, and discussions about everything we could make with our strawberries.
Jam.
Desserts.
Ice cream.
And, of course, plenty of strawberries eaten straight from the bucket.
As mothers, we often feel pressure to create elaborate memories for our children. But standing in that strawberry field reminded me that children don’t always need grand adventures.
Sometimes they simply need a sunny day, a bucket, and permission to wander.
Strawberry picking has become one of our favorite spring activities, and it’s a tradition I hope we continue for many years.
Because the truth is, the beauty of ordinary days is often found in moments exactly like these.
Do you have a simple spring tradition with your family? I’d love to hear about it in the comments.