Day 4: Harpers Ferry to Shepardstown. The shortest day was the longest

Mike asked me where I get all of my patience for my children, and I honestly don't have an answer for that. The children are good people, really. They're the sweetest, good-natured, full of honest intentions. I think my patience comes from trying to honor them as people, with their own point of view of what is important to them. It is far easier for me to see the world from their perspective than to have them see the world from mine, and nor do I want that for them in the greater sense. But there are some lessons I wish I could get through to them, like being part of a riding team means you move forward, despite feeling homesick.
Bryan was in the best spirits yesterday, and he really did his best to try to cheer up Eryn and coax her along. He suggested to just pretend Daddy was riding with us. And then told me later how much fun he was having with Eryn being there. But most of the ride, Bryan was up ahead with mom and Mike, and Eryn and I were working through her hard day.
So, I got out the Towwhee, and towed her for most of the 15 miles. I heard less about how much she wanted to go home, and more silly songs. We both pointed out things along the trail to each other- she spotted trees that looked like butts, I pointed out anything I could to keep her occupied. I told her all of the things we're going to do and see in the upcoming days, she pointed out I already told her that stuff. I rationalized with her that if we did find a way to get a train to the airport to get her home early, it would be Monday and Daddy would be at work all week, so she may as well stay through Saturday with us. She started to think about the "what-ifs" of travelling back on her own (if we really do get to the point where she just has to go home early, of course I'd go with her, but for now she's pretty convinced I'd write her a permission slip and write out directions and if she gets confused she can ask the Amtrak staff or airplane staff, and she doesn't like to talk to people, so this option seems very unnerving to her.)
My biggest hope for my daughter is for her to recognize herself as this strong, capable person, and I think it's that hope of any parent- hoping that their child is better off than the previous generation, but more in skillset and happiness and making up for what their own personal struggles are. It's hard to see the difficult parts of my mini-me, because I would love to just scoop it all up, fast-forward through the difficult years to come, and have that emergence of the strong sense-of self that will come with time and encouragement. And having her with me on this trip is one of the best ways I can think of trying to impart this adult-perspective lesson- it gets better, you are strong, capable, and you've earned a right to confidence, so show it, believe it, and live it.
Highlights:
- Shepardstown is a cool little place glad we stopped here.
- June as Pride Month is in full display in this part of West Virginia.
- another good weather day
- saw a snake! More critters to our critter count.
- the towwhee really saved the day.
Challenges:
 - an almost 9 year old girl missing home. I'm exhausted from the mental energy of that day.
Recommendations:
- PB&J lunches are still popular.
- Read the bag and make sure you're getting peanut m&ms and not the snack mix with pretzels.
- Don't let wet muddy clothes sit in your black pannier for 2 sunny days before washing. That was some serious funk. Thankfully there was laundry today.
- Walk to dinner, walk through town, wander a bit. Even if the children ring every bell in the bike shop and hit every windchime outside. They had plenty of energy to walk the mile into the heart of Shepardstown, eat dinner, and walk the mile back.
- if the boy is happy with the melted otter pop slushy thing at dairy queen, that's his choice, and don't talk him out of it.