An Ocean of Discovery

Ever since my son could crawl around, he's been exploring the encyclopedias on the lowest bookshelf. He fell in love with the ocean through shows and videos over the pandemic lock downs that moved his preschool days to the home office. He grew up alongside the baby animals that came and went through our home during my own animal science career, and now he is diving deeper into the world of animals and more than anything marine biology. It's so much fun to experience alongside him, and to feel the rejuvenation of my own passion that brought me into the animal science career in the first place!

Childhood interests come so purely from the heart and soul, it's a whole new world of magic to experience when you follow along. There has been many a visit to an aquarium or zoo where he's been able to identify the animals and even surprise the employees with random facts about each one. Some days I think it feels more like raising a reincarnated scientist once lost at sea! I love every minute of the adventure.

A coastal life brings my desert-born son opportunities that not everyone has so close to home, and even on the days it's hard to live out here it's worth it for these moments. This moment was one we both got to experience for the first time, and our combined excitement and passion wiped away even the cold autumn ocean breeze on our faces. There was a moment where we both stood in a respectful silence for the gentle giant lost in front of us, and it was a moment of watching the little spark of conservation in his heart stoke into a flickering flame. After our silent awe, we shifted right into a question and answer session. Half of the questions were mine, too, and most remained unanswered.

When this whale beached we made the trek out a mile both ways, mostly with him on my shoulders. It was an experience we'll both likely never forget. We spent an hour or so just walking around looking over the markings the scientists left behind and discussed the reasons they didn't take it away with them. The magic that comes with watching the pieces click together in his so-new-to-this-world eyes is a feeling like no other. There's not much in this world that feels better than sharing a passion with your child, and making it a family effort.

This up close encounter with such a sight took us both into a deep dive into research and exploration. We were suddenly tracking current events of the humpback whales alongside learning the ABC's. Each day brings us a new science documentary or book about marine mammals. Then every chance we get our weekends become beach walks, aquarium tours, and tide pool observations. Raising a budding scientist is rewarding and mind-boggling, because this small human who has always thought you're the one who knows everything is asking questions that you've never even considered before.

The decision to prioritize the future of my child, in whatever way my child sees it, has been my guiding force for his entire life. When the opportunity came up to move five miles from the ocean I couldn't even imagine saying no. My son has known from the time he could talk that he wants to work with sea creatures, and there's a good chance that could change over the years, but my animal science pursuits of childhood followed me through all my careers so maybe he's decided too. What he chooses in the end doesn't really matter much to me. My only concern is that he knows that whatever he's chosen he has my support.