A FIVE-YEAR OLD'S FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT MAINE IN SPRINGTIME

Growing up in the 80s in a family full of salt-of-the-earth Maine women, I know first-hand how precious girlhood can be in this beautiful state. And while the world looks a lot different these days with the internet and AI making all of our wants and needs feel instantly gratified, there are still some old-fashioned, analog aspects to growing up in Maine that, fingers crossed, will never change. I chatted with my precocious five-year-old daughter, Eleanor, to get her perspective on what she loves most about being a kid during spring in Maine. Here are her hilariously unfiltered thoughts.

1. PLANTING SEEDS

Eleanor helps plant flower and vegetable seeds in the first cold days of spring to start the summer gardens. "But I don't like sunflowers; they look like giant eyes," she says.

2. HEARING SPRING SOUNDS

"I like hearing the chicka-dee-dee-dee-deeee and the buzzy bees and the breezy breeze and the flap flap of our kites when it gets windy," she says. "Spring makes the best sounds."

3. MUD, SO MUCH MUD

While wiggling her feet out of her shoes, she tries to show me just how much she loves the squishy feeling of mud between her toes. "I can sculpt with it too!"

4. SEARCHING FOR EPHEMERALS

Eleanor explains that spying on the first flowers in spring always surprises her. "I like when the pods poke out through the snow and sneak on you," she says.

5. GETTING READY TO SAIL

Eleanor spends weekends helping her grandparents ready their boat for summer sailing. She says that her favorite part is inspecting the kids' cabin, where there is a port hole in the floor so they can watch fish and whales swim under the boat during summer, "Except we never see whales, Mom," she reminds me.

6. CUTTING FLOWERS

One of Eleanor's favorite things is cutting flowers and making bouquets. "I love peonies, dandelions, and blowing on the dandelion puffs, hearing the bees buzz, and eating lily pods," she says.

7. PUDDLE JUMPING

Sneaking into puddles and splashing is a sport, Eleanor says. "I like getting dirty, and I like splashing and especially the getting dirty part."

8. DIGGING FOR WORMS

Digging for worms while dad turns over the garden to ready it for planting is an annual must for Eleanor. She looks for the biggest, fattest, and longest worms, but "when I notice they are dry, I put them back in the soil because they are my friends."

9. EATING OUTSIDE WITH MY BROTHERS

When the sun takes longer to settle in the west, Eleanor and her brothers love to eat outside and watch the first stars come out. "My favorite food to eat outside is hotdogs!" Eleanor yelps, adding, "and s'mores!"

10. TIME WITH DAD

"I like walking in the woods with dad and taking a nice hike to see the cows and going on the big hill," she says. Living in Maine means living close to nature and having lots of opportunities to get into the woods and play.

A Five-Year Old’s Favorite Things