Contact Me

Would you like me to come on your podcast or join an Instagram Live? Drop me a line and we’ll set something up.

Are you a member of the media who needs a knowledgeable voice for a radio segment, TV show or news article? I’ve got plenty of experience with media appearances and I’m always happy to chat.

Are you the organizer of a book club and want me to do a virtual author visit? Please don’t be a stranger! I love connecting with my readers and rarely miss a chance to pop in on a discussion.

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Click on the link to drop me a line!

Linda@lindamcgurk.com

Linda-455-low-res

rainorshinemamma

Swedish American author, speaker and nature play advocate🌿 Living an open-air life⛺️ Start here👇🏼

There are a lot of good things about tech, but exc

There are a lot of good things about tech, but excessive screen time is taking a toll on children’s physical and mental health today. Many apps and games have built-in mechanisms designed to make them highly addictive and children are even more susceptible to them than adults, since their brains are not fully developed🧠Screens are so ubiquitous in our lives today that it takes conscious effort to balance them with experiences IRL.

For the past few years, our family has experimented with screen free or screen reduced Sundays. I’m not going to pretend that it’s easy. But if the goal is to increase quality family time outdoors and encourage the kind of creativity that arises from a healthy dose of boredom, it does work🌳

Some other tips to foster a healthy screen time culture in your family are:

✅ Learn how to use the parent controls on your kids’ devices and set age-appropriate limits.

✅ Have certain times or spaces that are always screen free, for example around the dinner table, in the bedrooms and so on, and be sure to be consistent.

✅ Create a buy-in for the kids by letting them help plan screen free activities for the whole family.

What’s your biggest obstacle when it comes to keeping screen time under control?
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #screenfreesunday #friluftsliv #outdoors #greentime

That about sums it up, doesn’t it?☺️ This qu

That about sums it up, doesn’t it?☺️ This quote is from Meet the Wild, a new picture book by Lindsay Kellar-Madsen of @the.madsen.littles. Inspired by the outdoor learning and play culture in Scandinavia, Lindsay wrote the book to invite children to explore nature all year round, regardless of the weather.
I personally love the message and sweet illustrations in this book❤️ If you have a little one in your life, you can buy the book by backing Lindsay’s Kickstarter campaign. Check out her Instagram for details!
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#meetthewild #picturebook #outdoorplay

📚📚📚Book Cover Reveal📚📚📚 A few y

📚📚📚Book Cover Reveal📚📚📚

A few years ago, I did a poll in my social media channels to see what topic you’d like me to explore in my next book. One of them won by an overwhelming margin: the Nordic outdoor tradition friluftsliv. Well, I heeded your call. I’m pleased to share that it’s now possible to pre-order The Open-Air Life: Discover the Nordic Art of Friluftsliv and Embrace Nature Every Day from just about any place that sells books! (Link in bio)

The Open-Air Life is for anybody who is longing to lead a simpler, happier and less hurried life. It shows you how to channel the power of nature connection to improve your physical and mental health, as well as your relationships with both other people and Mother Nature. Plus, you’ll learn a few party tricks, like lighting a campfire without matches and cleaning water on the go. At a time when more and more people are starting to appreciate why they should spend more time outside, this book will show you how, with a decidedly Nordic twist.

I must say that I LOVE this dreamy cover that the designers at @penguinrandomhouse created. What do you think?

@tarcherperigee @penguinrandomhouse

#theopenairlife #rainorshinemamma #coverreveal #bookcover #friluftsliv #friluftslivbook

I took my kids on an overnight paddling trip last

I took my kids on an overnight paddling trip last weekend and it started out with sunshine and rainbows☀️🌈 Swipe to the last video to see how it ended➡️

We had set out to explore the northernmost island in our local lake and while we cruised up there with decent tailwinds, the wind picked up overnight. Going back the next day, we faced strong headwinds the entire time🌊

For nearly three hours, we paddled in choppy waters, with waves sometimes so high that they splashed into the canoe. We had no choice but to paddle nonstop - if we stopped, we immediately started drifting backwards😩

The thing about being outdoors is that you’re never fully in control of all parameters - trips like these always involve a certain amount of risk. The weather can change quickly, and not always according to the forecast. What we can control is our reaction to the challenge, how we act on it and what we learn from it.

While none of us was happy about the situation, the girls did pull together and did an amazing job paddling💪🏻 And while they both vowed to never go paddling again, I told them that this will make a funny story later in life. They weren’t convinced at the time but I think they’ll come around eventually😅

Do you have any stories of getting in over your head to share?😃
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #friluftsliv #openairlife #paddling #paddlingwithkids

Summer is high season for TICKS…🕷 (I know tha

Summer is high season for TICKS…🕷 (I know that’s a spider emoji, but you get the idea😅)

A lot of people freak out at the sight of these blood suckers and understandably so, considering the diseases they can harbor. But they too are a part of nature and if we want to keep venturing outside during the warmer months (I definitely do and I suspect you do too) we must come to terms with them.

If you want to know more about tick prevention, I just wrote a pretty detailed post about it on my blog. Head over to rainorshinemamma.com to learn and share this post with others who worry about ticks!👌🏻
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #friluftsliv #ticks #tickprevention

I missed a meeting Sunday night😬 An informal me

I missed a meeting Sunday night😬 An informal meeting, yes, but still…I take pride in being dependable and prompt, and I hate to be flakey.

I’d like to think that it was because I got distracted when my daughter called from my mom’s house and said she was running a fever, but in reality I got sidetracked well before that. Weekends are my time to zone out from schedules, emails and social media, and spend more time outside, especially this time of the year.

So I missed a meeting. But I gained a quiet paddle through pastel waters as the sun slowly descended below the spruces on the horizon. An hour to myself to just be one with the lake, the light and the promise of the summer that still lies ahead☀️
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #sup #standuppaddle #sweden #sweden_photolovers #sweden_images

This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations @wiet

This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations @wietinghannah, you’re our winner!🎊

📚📚📚GIVEAWAY📚📚📚

Have you heard the term "ecohappiness"? If not, this is your chance to learn more!

Author Sandi Schwartz and I have teamed up to give away a copy of her book "Finding Ecohappiness," an inspirational manifesto and practical guidebook for families to get outside and enjoy nature together. Packed with ideas for outdoor activities like animal yoga, forest bathing, sit spotting, float therapy and nature art, this book is definitely one to add to your collection📕

How to enter👇🏼
✅ Like and save this post
✅ Follow @rainorshinemamma and @getecohappiness
✅ Comment by completing this sentence: "To me, being in nature is..."

This giveaway closes on June 4 and a winner will be selected shortly after that. You must be 18 and live in the US or Canada to enter. This giveaway is not associated with or sponsored by Instagram.

Good luck!🙌🏽

#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #ecohappiness #findingecohappiness #naturebooks #goodreads #naturelovers #ecotherapy #getkidsoutside

Having scientific reasons and explanations for doi

Having scientific reasons and explanations for doing things is good and there are any number of ways free climbing benefits our physical and mental health. But sometimes you’ve just got to trust your guts, feel all the feelings and enjoy the joyride🙌🏻🌳

What makes you feel joy in nature?
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #treeclimbing #onewithnature #vitaminn #friluftsliv #optoutside

I’m not going to lie - there are times when my c

I’m not going to lie - there are times when my children’s dawdling drives me nuts. Like when they take 45 minutes to finish breakfast even though we’re running late . But I also envy their ability to be completely unhurried and present in the moment, and I realize that it’s a quality that I need to protect🐌

As parents, we need to make space for our children to play, get bored, dawdle, wander, wonder, create, sleep in, be wild and free and watch the clouds go by. Let them be where they are and not push them to achieve arbitrary milestones or condition them to think that a packed calendar is the key to success and happiness.

As always, Ginny of @1000hoursoutside is on point🙌🏻
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #1000hoursoutside #quote

Did you know that camping for as little as two nig

Did you know that camping for as little as two nights straight can help you reset your circadian rhythms and improve your sleep for several weeks afterwards? That's because the natural light helps the body regulate melatonin, a hormone that tells the body when it's time to get up and go, and when it's time to rest and recuperate🌗

My melatonin levels weren't top of mind when @jeanetteosterman and I started our challenge to sleep outside at least once a month for a year. But I must say, I rarely sleep as soundly and feel as energetic as I do when I sleep under the skies.

Have you ever tried sleeping in a camping hammock? I bought my first one a few years ago and I ❤️ it!
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #friluftsliv #openairlife #sleepingoutside #camping #campinglife #hammock #sleepingoutsidechallenge #freshaireveryday

Raise your hand if you have a teen or tween and fe

Raise your hand if you have a teen or tween and feel like you're constantly negotiating/fighting/fretting over your child's screen time👋🏼

Well, you're not alone😰

Since 2011, when mobile internet had its breakthrough, teens' and tweens' screen time has increased dramatically. At the same time, physical activity has decreased significantly. The WHO recommends that teenagers get at least one hour of physical activity every day, but in reality 85% of the girls and 78% of the boys globally don't meet the target.

Making outdoor activity a normal part of your daily routine can help your tween or teen get the exercise and fresh air they need and lay the foundation for lifelong healthy habits. I'm the first to admit that it isn't easy, but then again, nobody said parenting would be a cakewalk🤪

Hang in there and check out a few of the strategies that help me balance screen time with 'green time'. Do you have any tips to share?
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #parenting #parentingteens #parentingtweens #getoutside

“I’m not thrilled about looking older. But wha

“I’m not thrilled about looking older. But what unsettles me the most about the 40s is the implication that I’m now a grown-up myself.”
- Pamela Druckerman

Forty-four laps around the sun today and I still find that the passing of time is one of life’s greatest mysteries.
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #aging #44
@pameladruck

This is exactly how I feel when I spend time in na

This is exactly how I feel when I spend time in nature and why I find it so relaxing. When I’m outside with my kids I’m really present in the moment and there’s no place I’d rather be❤️ Hope you feel the same🌿

Quote by @awilderchild
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #friluftsliv #optoutside #outside #outsideisfree #theairisfree #wildchildhood #letthemexplore #letthembekids

They don’t always want to come hiking with me bu

They don’t always want to come hiking with me but when they do, they want hot chocolate 100% of the time❤️😅

What’s your outdoor comfort food?
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #outdoorfood #friluftsliv #outsideeveryday #optoutside #vitaminn

This giveaway is now CLOSED. Congratulations @conn

I’ve always loved traveling and have been to my

I’ve always loved traveling and have been to my fair share of exotic places, the farther the better🌎 Sometimes, I’d stay for a week, sometimes for months, or even a year. But in the past few years, my horizon has narrowed, and not only because of the pandemic.

The effects of global climate change are real and it’s becoming harder and harder for me to justify flying for recreation. I’m not here to say that I’m swearing off flying altogether (we have a lot of family abroad that we can only get to by air) but I’m mostly trying to satisfy my craving for adventure at local destinations these days. And it’s been an eye opener🤩

There’s so much more to discover locally than I’d ever thought and going on these micro adventures makes me feel more rooted in my community and the history of this place. Hopefully, my girls will feel it too🌳

What are your thoughts on exploring more locally?
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #friluftsliv #microadventure #microadventures #sweden #outdooradventures #åsletå #hornborgarsjön

When I became a parent, one of the first books I r

When I became a parent, one of the first books I read was Free-Range Kids by Lenore Skenazy and I felt like I’d finally found somebody who “got it.”🙌🏻 Somebody who stood up and said enough is enough with the helicopter parenting trend, questioned the need for baby knee pads and reminded everyone that it’s okay for kids to be bored, drink out of the garden hose, climb trees and play without intervention by adults who are trying to make the activity more “educational.” Somebody who understood that free play is learning. And for that, we thank her🙏🏻🙌🏻
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #freerangekids #freerangekid #wildandfreechildren #wildandfreekids #wildandfree #wildschooling #freeplay #playingislearning #letthemplay #letthembekids #letthembewild
@lskenazy

A follower recently asked me when she could start

A follower recently asked me when she could start hiking with her kids, to which I responded that I’ve always hiked with mine, ever since they were babies👶🏻 I kept going after they graduated from the carrier, but obviously “hiking” with a toddler is a lot different than hiking by yourself and I think it’s important to be prepared for and accepting of that, or nobody is going to have a good time.

If you’d like to know more about hiking with toddlers, I share some tips in this post: https://rainorshinemamma.com/hiking-with-toddlers/.

What are your thoughts on hiking with little kids? Do you have any tips that you’d like to share?💡
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #friluftsliv #hiking #hikingwithkids #hikingwithtoddlers #hikingwithbabies #optoutside

Yes, it looks cozy around the fire and it was🔥

Yes, it looks cozy around the fire and it was🔥 What the picture doesn’t show is us making a wrong turn and losing the trail, resulting in a 1.5-mile detour with heavy packs and sunset closing in on us before we finally reached our campsite🙈

One of the reasons why I love hiking and backpacking is that even though it’s about “living simply”, it also involves a great deal of problem-solving. I actually like it when things don’t go exactly according to plan, because you learn more that way. Not just practical things, like figuring out your location and getting on the right track, but also about yourself and your reaction to challenges🙌🏻

In this case, the wrong turn was just a minor misstep that we were able to correct by backtracking, but it was a good way to test our reasoning skills and resilience at a point when we were both starting to get a little tired.

This was our fourth time of sleeping outside at least once a month for a year, a challenge I jumped on thanks to my friend @jeanetteosterman. I’m not normally one to do challenges but this has been a fantastic way to push my boundaries and learn new skills. Who knows, maybe sleeping under the open skies once a month will become my new normal?😜🤩
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #friluftsliv #optoutside #outdoorexperten #camping #campinglife #springcamping #backpacking #backpackingwithkids #vitaminn

I think it’s safe to say that if more of us trie

I think it’s safe to say that if more of us tried to see the world through a child’s eye, this Earth would be a much more loving and compassionate place❤️

Thanks @awilderchild for your amazing nature poetry🙏🏻
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #nature #naturepoetry #quotes #naturequotes

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