Linn Cove Viaduct 2

Earlier this week, Brandon shared the iconic photo he took while we were out hiking around the Linn Cove Viaduct.

I have my own favorite photo from that day.

Our day of hiking started out beautifully—we had all of the kids with us, we packed a picnic, the weather was perfect, and the fall colors were popping. But somewhere out there, things got rocky, and not just the trail.

I don’t know when or how it started, but by the time we reached the summit of our first hike, two of our older kids were very clearly airing out their frustrations to one another about one another. While other hikers were perched on cliffs taking in the view and enjoying their picnic lunches, we rolled in like a Texas tornado.

But then, as mysteriously as it started, it cleared back up. By the time we were making our way back down, everyone was happy again. They laughed and carried on and spent the rest of the afternoon joined at the hip.

The same thing happened later that day between two of our younger kids. On our second hike they all wanted to climb a boulder that overlooked the viaduct. It was a challenging climb but not as challenging as who was going to go first—and that’s where the younger two fell apart. As the older kids helped one another go up (yes, even the two who were at it earlier that day), the younger kids were verbally battling it out in front of us and everyone else who was ready to climb.

But just like earlier that day, they somehow got it figured out. They seemed to work it out just as quickly as it had escalated just minutes before.

After the kids made their way back down, each one helping the other, our oldest son showed us this picture they took while they were on top of the boulder. My momma heart melted as I thought, this is why we come out here.

These kids, amid the squabbles and selfies, helped me realize—we don’t do these things together because we get along all the time. We all get along because we do these things together.

I’ve always looked at the things we do as a family, whether it’s a vacation, a hike, yard work, or daily chores, as “family team-building.” The truth is, the better we can work together, the better we can play together. The better we can work through things that make us upset or that feel unfair. And the better we can help one another climb up to get to where we want to be.