written by Jess Mercier
“How long have you been doing this?”
“How old is he?”
“Wow! You really jumped in with motherhood!”
“He’s like the mayor!”
These are the comments I hear almost every week about my son, Jaxen. He’s one year old now, and as we arrive at ‘Nature School,’ people often notice how comfortable he seems in this space—like he’s been here forever. And in a way, he has. Jaxen started coming to Lil’ Compton Explorers when he was just three months old. He’s grown up here, seeing new children and their families join the group with each changing season.
But I’ll be honest—it took us both a little while to feel at home.
I remember one of our first days last June. We were walking on the beach, and Jaxen was so tiny. I was completely petrified. It was our first big outing alone, and I had no idea what I was doing. We were heading to our very first social group, and it also happened to be his first time at the beach. What was I thinking, doing this by myself? What if he got a sunburn? What if the sand was too hot? I was full of worry.
But then, we met Marlen. She welcomed us with open arms and shared her calm, helpful advice about everything baby-related. We kept coming back after that first day, week after week...
...feeling more at home with each visit and building a community I didn’t even realize we needed.
One group turned into two. We added Waves of Wonder to our summer schedule, and before I knew it, we were leading a group of our own—Teeny Tiny Trailblazers. Each group has its own magic, its own rhythm, and yet they all offer the same gift...
...the space to move at our own pace and the freedom to show up just as we are.
We’ve learned to slow down. We no longer worry about schedules or time constraints. We explore the trails at whatever pace feels right that day. Sometimes we try crafts, sometimes we don’t. We’ve had snack breaks that last entire sessions. And we’ve learned something I wish I had known sooner...
...we are allowed to go at our own pace—every day, every session, every season.
With love, passion, and room to grow,
Jess & Jaxen
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