Since finishing her GCSEs 3 weeks ago Amy has been at a bit of a loose end and it's been nice to spend a little more time with her. On Thursday evening we went for a long walk together, exploring some of our local countryside around Great Amwell nature reserve and walking the Amwell walkway which follows the course of a dismantled railway branch line. It was a lovely evening and we saw and heard lots of wildlife including rabbits, butterflies, dragonflies, some huge Roman snails (Helix pomatia which was exciting as they are quite rare and endangered here in the UK), a green woodpecker and lots of water birds. I was really hoping to see a barn owl but we weren't that lucky.
Along the path that runs through farmland we had an uncomfortably close encounter with a herd of cows, young bullocks I think they were. When we first walked through their field they were laying down but on the way back they were drinking and grazing, stopping when we walked past and becoming very curious about us. Disconcertingly they followed us all the way down the field, getting closer all the while and we were relieved to reach the stile and climb over, leaving them on the other side.
Before returning to the canal we climbed Widbury Hill and enjoyed the views across Ware and the Lea Valley. On the way back down, with the rich evening sunlight warming our backs we could hear bells pealing out across the fields as the ringers practiced at the church and it felt like a perfect moment in time.
It's not easy to remain connected to your child as they navigate their teenage years. Often I feel that my words and advice are not welcome and mostly actively ignored. Spending time with me is often pretty low on her list of priorities, so sharing moments like these with her is a precious thing and I treasure them all the more because of their comparative rarity. It fills my heart with pleasure that despite her usual preference for spending time immersed in the technology of computers and digital communication she can still enjoy and access the simple and rewarding pleasure of being quiet, observant and appreciative in a beautiful place.
little cotton rabbits 
A wonderful evening and a fantastic memory. Watching your child grow to adulthood. How quickly it happens. Mums are not needed until they are. Then we’re there with open arms and hearts for whatever they need. Much love. X
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What a lovely post Julie, sounds and looks like it was a beautiful walk (despite the cattle) with some lovely mother/daughter time too.
V x
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As a daughter who isn’t on the phone to her mum every five minutes, Jill’s words rang very true with me. Mum absolutely was there for me when I did need her at four in the morning. Can I just say how fab Amy’s hair is? I remember her dip dyed blue long hair and was a bit envious, my brown hair would need a bit of help to go blue! Lovely photos and recollection of a peaceful happy time, even with inquisitive cows. Lovely to hear from you again x x
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Lovely. How are the kids so grown up?!
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Gorgeous pictures, as always. And Amy is just stunning!
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Julie, your photography is as lovely as your knitting! Glad you were able to spend such a lovely time with Amy!
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I remember taking a stroppy teenager on a bluebell walk in a hanging wood. She spent the time (to my amazement) saying how beautiful it was and how she wished she had a camera with her. I retold the story to a dear friend and her response was to tell me to hang on in there as she would return to me and do you know she did. They need to go to come back – if that makes any sense. x
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Thank you for sharing your very special time with Amy. Beautiful photos. I am sure it will be a special memory for both of you. Sue x
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What a beautiful countryside and a nice walk through your pictures. A special time for mother and daughter to share. Teenagers are not teens forever, they grow up and find their way back, although changed from when they were children – they grow up – just like we did. It is always nice to remember them as children though.
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what beautiful images from your walk together! They definitely do come back around, the teen years are a time of fierce independence! I was terrible, I was really hard on my mom. But the older I get the more I can’t imagine my life without my mom, we are so close.
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The countryside looks so lush and beautiful. I always enjoy seeing photos of the English countryside and I think those steers just wanted to go home with you! They are very inquisitive and usually friendly animals, a couple of them looked like some of ours. In truth they were probably hoping that you would let them into another paddock as the grass is always greener on the other side! Thank you for sharing these photos.
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Glad Amy’s GCSEs are out of the way now. What a beautiful girl she is, you’ve captured her very well in your pictures. And what a lovely walk as well, I can imagine the moment with the church bells ringing on a summer’s evening – perfect indeed. Glad you had that time together. CJ xx
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What a lovely post Julie and such a lovely walk. That mother/daughter connection may seem hard to find sometimes through the teenage years but it will still be there x
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Amy has grown into a lovely young woman hasnt she. I didnt recognise her at first. Having a 14 year old daughter I can totally relate to that feeling too sometimes, but underneath it all they do need their mother. Your countryside is so pretty and it must be nice to get out and walk taking it all in.
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How well she carries off that look!
We had an uncomfortable encounter with cows too. Made all the more edgy when we saw the bull we had to get past on a return trip through a field that had previously been empty. It made the swarm of bees in the next field seem quite manageable! I have never been so grateful to see a stile.
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I like to think that although much isn’t said at the time, moments like these spent with teenage daughters are catalogued and filed away in their minds as special Mum-and-daughter time. They don’t miss as much as we think they do, these teenagers of ours xx
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I knos the feeling …..
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Such a beautiful walk and how nice to share it with your daughter. It’s very hard to know the correct words and actions during the teenage years. Love that you have this time together.
Blessings,
Betsy
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My, hasn’t Amy matured! How fortunate she is to have such a idyllic place to walk with her mom.
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My girlfriend, who is so wise, says that if you can pass through the turbulent years of pre adulthood & you still like them…you always love them…but really like the person they have become, you have won! I think it sounds like you are on that path. Enjoy your daily moments…that is what a life is made of. As a mom of three boys I am envious …although my boys are pretty special too!
Take care, Lori from Port Perry
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Just beautiful! Thank you for sharing. 🙂
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Yay for the end of Amy’s GCSEs! Your photos are beautiful — what a special time for the two of you. I’m always so sad for the teenage years — it’s such a hard time for them as they find their independence. And a hard time for us Mums to watch them go through it! XO
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Wow, Amy has grow so much – love her haircut and such a beautiful complexion. Glad you had that special time together. I am looking forward to a visit to England soon. Take care.
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Those are hard years as children are finding themselves. They do grow up and those bonding times become precious to them too. As a mother of 4 grown daughters, I can say keep trying to connect. Soon you will reap those rewards.
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LOVED walking with you and Amy! What a visual treat, and your descriptions make it all the more real. Amy is a real beauty with a unique style. I wonder who she gets that from? Hopefully, she realizes what special times these are with her Mum. My own dear sweet Mommy died last September. I miss her terribly. Amy, spend as much time with your VERY special Mommy while you can! Thanks for sharing your incredibly beautiful world with us, Julie.
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Wonderful and enlightening pictures. Helps to picture where you live and like everyone has posted Amy is a delightful looking teenager. So glad you were able to spend time with her! I’m enjoying my time with my grandchildren when I’m able. Thanks for sharing Julie!
LaurT
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You live in a really beautiful part of the world. I grew up in the Highlands but live in the central belt now and still miss being able to go out for walks like that. I just love the beauty and peace of nature. Animals, plants and trees make me happy!
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On a walk like that, you have just reassured yourself that your ‘techy teen’ hasn’t really strayed too far from your family values…..and will eventually (sooner than you probably now think!!!) return as your best friend. (Ask me how I know this??? I’m blessed, too.)
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Mother and daughter moments like these now include a little tag-along by the name of Maddie, the very image of her mama. I look at that bitty girl and think, “I have been here before, a long, long time ago.” Stephanie
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You reap what you sew, how true this saying is. They talk about the “terrible twos” but forget to mention the “terrible teens” and how hard these years are. Small comfort at the moment but hang in there and make the most of the good bits when you get them. Your bond is still there, deeply hidden sometimes, but don’t despair.
Be reassured by those of us who have “come out the other side” your precious daughter will re-emerge and the bond will be all the stronger. We give them wings and hope they will fly, and Amy will of course. You have our support to help you in the tough times and the reassurances that all will be well, let nature take its course. x
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Beautiful thoughts. I am in those teenage parenting years, giving unwanted advice, so appreciate knowing I’m not alone 🙂
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Julie lvely post also beautiful pictures, your daughter has grown into a beautiful young lady. YEs I know exactly how you feel these moments with your children are so very special, I know as my girls are now 39 and 36 and I am now a grandma!!!!!!! So it starts all over again lol, but they do change Julie and now my girls can’t get enough of me!!!! Ha.
HOpe you all have a lovely summer especially Toby, take care I. Just love your blog and he who cares if you only post it every. Now and again it s so worth waiting for all the great pics and all your news.
Hugs
Ellie (Scotland) xxxxx
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No advice but an observation:
Enjoy them where “they are” and
Just try to be there for them.
They know you love them.
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