My children and I have been walking when weather allows, balancing the home school, indoor device time from lock-down learning with outside, energy releasing, tree climbing mini picnic.

“Mum! Mum! Come and look at this!” my 7y/o son yelled with urgency, or that’s what it sounded like to me through my mama lockdown ears. The urgency turned out to be excitement, and I was delighted to see what he’d noticed and wanted to share: “Mum, there are flowers starting to grow on the guava tree!”

From day dot, these discoveries like this prompt ongoing discussions about our seasons, and those ongoing discussions inspired the NZ Seasonal Wheel art to assist these chats. We walked, noticing all the other signs that showed us spring was beginning, the peach blossoms, Great Nana June’s flower bulbs were showing, the bees were active.

Noticing my ‘little noticers’ can blow me away sometimes. We are often so busy in our adult minds and life that it is easy to half listen or overlook their wonder. But when we can be present and tune in, well that when the magic creeps in. The unseen becomes seen. We notice how nature automatically attunes to her own rhythms, things unfold and burst forth.

And, most importantly from my 4 years olds eyes, the mulberry tree leaves and fruit were growing!

“It’s spring! It’s going to be my birthday soon!”

Each of my babies have fruit associated with them, a memory of what was growing, when they were growing in my belly. The cyclic nature of the seasons brings nostalgia for me, each year I am reminded of that special time, carrying life – and now, it is so anticipated by my children. Picking the seasonal fruit on their birthday remains a significant treat and beautiful shared celebration that I am so grateful for as a part of our family life.

Though we didn’t celebrate any seasonal changes in my own childhood, I still have distinct memories around each of the fruit trees that grew in our urban backyard.

My hope is that these small seasonal celebrations create an enchanting childhood for my children, and meaningful memories for ever after.