I looked out the window to see Albus with his hands in the cement mixer...

Dear @Reader​
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We hope your week’s been wild - in the best possible way - and that you haven’t melted entirely. It’s scorching here, and most of the Wild Finca crew have kept up the daily wild swims. We’ve needed to.

The other day, Luke went to a school meeting and - completely out of the blue - our boys were held up as the example of what summer should look like: climbing trees, running free, independent, wild.

Idyllic, right?

But what they didn’t see was the chaos beforehand: kids yelling, slamming doors, crying, literally wrestling each other. Luke (whose Spanish is better, so he gets sent to these things) ran out the door while I (Katie) shoved our half-dressed, arguing boys out behind him. No hats. No suncream. No water. Classic parenting win.

But I gave them a mission: walk the 800m to the wild plum tree we’d scouted earlier.
(If you missed the Plum Adventure, you can catch a taste here!)

And something shifted.

They had space. They had purpose. They weren’t on top of each other anymore. And as they walked into the distance, the energy calmed.

Here’s the truth: my boys can be a disaster indoors. From 7am to well past bedtime, they are pure, unstoppable energy. If we could bottle it, we’d be very wealthy. But indoors, they’re like wild animals pacing a cage - coiled springs, just waiting to explode.

So don’t be fooled by Instagram glimpses. We have to get outside. Because the alternative? Honestly… it can be a bit of a mess.

That evening, after a two-hour bedtime that left us questioning everything, Luke and I had That Conversation.

We circled it for a while. And finally agreed:

No. We’re not.

Because here’s the thing:

And those are the moments they’ll remember.

So if you're also navigating the sticky, shouty, messy tangle of summer, wondering if you’re getting it all wrong—

You’re not.

Let them out.
Let yourself off the hook.
And when in doubt - make it a mission.

From Cement Mixers to Bramble Scratches

Saturday. I looked out the window… and there was Albus. Hands in the cement mixer.

Our home base at Wild Finca is currently a building site. The boys? They think it’s an epic playground.
​Stressful doesn’t even begin to cover it.

So I grabbed a backpack, tossed in some water and nuts, and aimed for the woods.
(Forgot suncream again. Might need it tattooed on my forehead.)

It started well.
Roan was already planning the drawing he’d make of our adventure (his new favourite thing - here’s his interpretation of the plum tree mission!).

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But when we reached the woods, the scrub had grown so thick it was completely impassable.
I got tangled in a bramble that drew a dramatic amount of blood.

Team meeting. Decision made: turn back and try another route.

Up the hill, Albus stopped in the grass to spot bugs - and got absolutely mauled by some kind of biting insect.

So we called it.

Back home. Bug bite cream. Ice lollies. A nature documentary.

But here’s what we did get:

• 🦋 An incredible number of butterflies
• 🐞 Perhaps even more soldier bugs spotted (I now sing “Soulja Boy” (badly) every time the boys spot one. Luckily Albus finds it hilarious. Sorry if I've just given you an ear-worm for the day!)
• 🌿 Twenty mucky, buggy, beautiful minutes outdoors

Totally worth the scratches.

We ended up watching Born in China (Disneynature).
It’s gentle, beautifully filmed, and perfect for ages 5+.

What’s your go-to nature doc? We’d love to know.

🗓 Your 3-Day Mini Nature Quest Begins: Wednesday, July 23rd!

The doors are open! Our free 3-Day Nature Quest is almost here, and the Wild Finca Community Space is already buzzing with brilliant parents from around the world.

Come say hello inside!

This is where the Quest unfolds - and where you’ll find:

✨ Daily playful prompts
✨ A warm, like-hearted community
✨ A space to connect, share, and feel supported

🌿 Join the warm-up now?

Each day before the Quest, we’re inviting you to find one nature treasure and share it.

It might be:
🌱 A seed
🌸 A flower your child can’t stop staring at
🪨 A rock with the perfect colour or shape
🪶 A soft feather tucked in a pocket

Draw it. Snap a photo. Hold it in your hand.

Then come share it with us!

We’ve already had pigeon feathers, beautiful snails, and a tour down “flower alley” shared in the community - we’d love to hear what you and your little adventurer discover.

This small act of noticing is how the Quest begins. 🌿

No prep needed. Just bring:
✔️ A tiny pocket of time
✔️ Somewhere outdoors (or even just a window!)
✔️ A little willingness to explore

We can’t wait to share this wild little adventure with you.

From our wild corner to yours,
​Katie, Luke, Roan & Albus​
​Wild Finca​
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