Stories · Curiosities · Questionable Ideas · Rather a Lot of Imagination · Farah Sam · Author & Creator ·
Woods Walks While the House Is Noisy
Seeking refuge from the loud, dusty renovations inside, Mum takes Ariadne on quiet, grounding walks through the nearby winter woods. The natural world becomes a sanctuary of peace, texture, and sensory restoration for them both.
THE STAR FAMILY BLOG
Farah Sam
12/12/20212 min read
Diary Entry: Saturday
Zen level: High (restored by the quiet of the winter trees)
Chapters written: 1 page (written in the quiet of the afternoon) Current status: Breathing in the scent of damp earth and pine needles
When the drilling in the bathroom became too loud to bear this morning, I prepared Ariadne for the cold. She cannot tell us if she is freezing, so I proactively bundled her into her thickest insulated winter coat, wrapped a warm knit scarf around her neck, pulled down her woolen hat, and slipped out the back gate. Avenue de Havilland sits right at the edge of a beautiful, ancient Belgian wood, and today, the trees felt like a personal invitation to peace.
Yasmeen walked with us, keeping her phone tucked away for once to appreciate the scenery. "Mum, I looked up these woods online," she said quietly. "They're part of the Sonian Forest. Some of these beech trees are over two hundred years old."
Ariadne cannot explore safely on her own, so I held her small, gloved hand firmly in mine as we walked along the winding dirt path. We stopped by a moss-covered log. Yasmeen watched, wanting to connect with her sister. "Can I show her the moss, Mum?" she asked.
"Of course, sweetie. Just guide her fingers gently, hand-over-hand, so she can feel the softness," I said. Yasmeen knelt down, her straight dark hair falling forward, and gently guided Ariadne's tiny fingers to touch the soft, damp green moss, then the rough, cold bark of a fallen branch.
Suddenly, Ariadne began to cry, pulling at her gloves. I knew the cold was biting her fingers, and she was getting hungry. I pulled a pre-sliced apple and a soft croissant from my pocket, placing them in her hands. She ate independently as we walked, her tears drying quickly in the fresh air.
Closing: Back in the warmth of the kitchen, with Ariadne happily resting with her plush bunny, I stood by the window looking out at the dark trees. I took a deep, slow breath, feeling the stillness of the woods still resting in my soul. I sat on my mat, stretched my arms overhead, and gently twisted from side to side, releasing the physical effort of our walk. I closed my eyes, let my breath flow naturally, and held onto the peace of the winter trees.