Wild Blueberries

Posted byAbPosted inADHD, adoption, cooking, Family, FASD, Fun, New Brunswick, Parenting, summer, travelTags:, , , , , , , , ,

We’re letting T run wild this summer, taking a more relaxed approach than previous years.

Usually by the end of June, I would’ve lined up worksheets and books from his teacher, to work on with T over the summer.

I did this to avoid summer learning slide, as I’m mindful of T’s FASD and ADHD.

Maybe I want to minimize our stress or I recognize that childhood summers are short, but we threw caution to the wind this summer.

And it’s been one of our best summers with T.

Every summer, we spend the first two weeks of August visiting T’s grandparents at their cottage in Beresford, an Acadian town in New Brunswick.

This year has been a mostly relaxing visit – although T’s increased swearing is not impressing anybody.

We were joined by the hubby’s sister and A, T’s cousin whom he adores.

One late afternoon, T’s grandad took the hubby, two kids and I to pick wild blueberries in the woods; not a farm, but a wooded area off a dirt road.

At a first glance, it looked unassuming but as we walked into the trail – past moose tracks! – the treasure appeared, free for the taking.

Bushes upon bushes of blueberries in the wild.

Now I understood why our niece told us to keep this place top secret.

We spent 90 minutes quietly picking berries.

T worked with his cousin to fill their margarine container.

He was so focused. I bet he enjoyed the sensation of plucking berries off the stems.

It was hot and humid but we all wore long sleeves and pants to avoid being bit by insects.

I was doing well until I accidentally dropped my container! 😔

I salvaged as much as I could and managed to get half a container at the end.

Check out the group’s total haul below.

Imagine what stores would charge for this. We were blessed to have picked these in the wild.

The next day, my mother in law and the hubby spent hours cleaning the blueberries.

It was quite the effort!

That evening, my mother in law made a delicious no-bake blueberry cream cheese pie. 😋

According to farmers, wild blueberries have twice the antioxidants of cultivated blueberries, because they adapted to harsher climate.

When I think about this summer, I see the benefits of letting go of the need to cultivate control and to let T be wilder.

To be clear, I’m not saying throw rules and structure out the window.

It’s about recognizing childhood is short.

Something valuable is gained when we let kids have fun freely – be it a deeper bond with grandparents, warm memories that’ll carry them through hard times, or feeling rested so they’re ready to tackle a new school year.

This is harder to do as a special needs parent, when you are always on guard and feel like you’re always playing catchup or needing to be a step ahead of the next challenge.

By letting go of the need to control everything, we’re letting our kids grow in the wild and soak in all that life has to offer.

In the end, they become stronger and hardier for all that lies ahead of them.

Playing at the bay by his grandparents’ cottage with one of the neighbour’s dogs.

39 thoughts on “Wild Blueberries”

  3. What an amazing experience! Such a haul. And gosh, I felt for you when you dropped your container. The blueberry cheesecake looks soooo delectable. A lot of work, but worth the effort. Great memory for T too. 🙂

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  4. How lucky was that to get so many wild blueberries (minus a few still on the ground) lol. They are not only better for you than the bushes in my yard but so much sweeter too. I had to pull myself away from the screen when I saw that delicious looking cheesecake!!!!

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  6. Glad to hear T is having a wonderful summer. Those blueberries look amaaazing! There’s nothing better than fresh fruit, especially when you picked it yourself (and in your case, picked twice since you dropped your container)! I didn’t know that about how wild blueberries have twice the antioxidants as cultivated ones. How interesting. Enjoy the rest of your time on the east coast!

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    1. Thanks Linda! It’s been a great summer overall and it’s flying by so so quickly. School in 3 weeks!

      The wild berries were an unexpected fun experience and my mother in law is making another pie as I type! 😋

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  7. I love how you reflect on your experience picking wild blueberries with how you let T run ‘wild’ this summer. The container you dropped is probably an analogy to how raising T can be from time to time. You just need to pick him up when he ‘drops’ and move forward from there.

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  9. I love the analogy of wild-grown blueberries to letting kids grow in the wild, Ab. Like you suggest, there’s something powerful about a little structure (the right environment and conditions) paired with a bit of chance (unpredictable weathers or needing to find a solution to the boredom). What a memorable summer this will be for T!

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  10. Love this! We have wild blueberries at our home in ski country – but I do not have the patience to pick as many as you all did! Your insight about needing a free summer is spot on – so much good nutrition in this post!!!

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    1. Thanks Vickie! Get your kids and grandkids to pick them for you. I think that’s what ended up happening in our situation. 😂 And I love the “good nutrition” comment – the best kind of soul food!

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  11. What a wonderful way to spend the summer, Ab! I think … it’s all about balance, and this summer I think you and the hubby have struck just the right balance! Now … about those blueberries … my mouth is literally watering! WOW … that’s a LOT of blueberries! And that pie … oh I must have a piece! I’m so glad you guys are having so much fun this summer! Look forward to hearing more! Hugs to you all!

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    1. Thanks Jill. It’s been a lovely summer this year and a much needed gift, compared to last summer. We are blessed with my mother in law’s wonderful pie. She’s making another one tonight! 😊

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      1. Ohhhhh … I’m so jealous … that pie looked so yummy! Seriously, though, I’m very glad you guys are having such a good summer! Just a couple of weeks left ’til school resumes.

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  12. Oh, what a fabulous analogy, Ab! I love, “we’re letting our kids grow in the wild and soak in all that life has to offer.”

    I think it’s so good when our kids get to grow in the wild. It’s its own type of difficulty but so transformational all the same.

    And I’m so sorry about the spilled container. We used to pick wild huckleberries when I grew up in Eastern Washington. It’s hard work – but delicious!

    Hope you enjoy the rest of your time with your in-laws!

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    1. Thanks Wynne. I know you can relate to wanting to let loose but also know it has its own challenges. But it can indeed be so transformational.

      I’ll have to look up huckleberries as I don’t have a mental image of what they look like!

      We’re here till Thursday then drive back home on Friday. It’s just flying by so quickly but thankful for the annual time with them. 🙏

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  16. I used to live next door to an “alternative school” that served many students whose behaviors made a regular classroom uncomfortable. The language that drifted in my window seemed limited to just a few vulgarities—sad! A friend of mine found this exercise and required her son to create and use his own glossary. At least it was more fun for the parents!

    Comes with a convenient worksheet for that back-to-school transition. . ..

    Click to access RJInsults.pdf

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    1. Thanks Margaret for sharing this! 💕 It’s awesome and I love the creativity here.

      One of the psychologists that has known T since he was 1 recommended us finding alternative words for him to use, so this advice aligns with that.

      He is a clever kid so the trick will be to make him feel part of the process.

      And I hear ya on segregating kids into special classrooms or alternative schools. It is sad but sometimes needed.

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