The Island That Feels Like Home

a day of paddling, marshmallows, and a miniature village

We went on a day trip to Mother’s Day Island during autumn break. The 8- and 5-year-olds went on their own SUP board, while the youngest and I took another one. The sun was shining, and it was almost summer-warm — but only almost!

The water level in Lake Päijänne is so low that that pushing off was tricky. Even though we launched the boards from the end of the dock, it was so shallow that the fin on the bottom of the board touched the ground. With a little maneuvering, however, we managed to get free.

The island is very close to our cottage, and it has become very familiar to us. We spent Mother’s Day there, which is how it got its name. I really like this island. It’s big enough for its trees to be called a forest. There are also rocky shores, covered with a beautiful carpet of moss.

The campfire spot is small and simple, not an official fire pit. I guess hardly anyone else visits this island. In some way, it feels like our own place. The children have also grown attached to it, and they have a few special spots for playing.

We left the paddleboards in the same spot we’ve landed before. I admired the rocks. Their moss had clearly just been moistened, and it looked vibrantly green. Fallen leaves still held drops from the rain two days ago, like autumn’s diamonds, left behind after a nighttime heist — the forest still glimmering with what the thieves forgot to take.

I poured the first cup of coffee and savored just being. This island always feels comforting — everything is fine, everything will work out. The cottage is nearby, home is far away, and we are fully present in this moment, surrounded only by the island’s nature. It feels like nature’s living room, as cozy as home itself.

We spent a moment exploring the rocks and the water’s edge together. We wondered how far up the rocks the water had been at the beginning of summer, and how low it was now.

This year, the water level is lower than usual due to last winter’s low snowfall, the scarce rainfall during the summer, and the abundant heat waves that have evaporated even more water than normal.

I started a small campfire as the children began their play. We had brought some wood with us from the cottage. I whittled sticks with a knife for the kids to roast marshmallows. The 8yo whittled his own stick by themself. He has been practicing that skill lately.

The sticks were ready, and the marshmallow chaos began — by chaos, I mean how they bump into each other, and no matter where I place the bag of marshmallows, they collide and run along the oddest routes. But on the other hand, everything went smoothly. Even the youngest could hold a stick by themselves, and no one’s marshmallow burned. The 8yo even roasted a couple for me.

After the marshmallow moment, the children got excited about building a miniature village out of natural materials. Pinecones became little figures when we stuck small pieces of wood in as arms and legs. Sticks were used to build a hut and a campfire. A tuft of moss became the “roast” in this tiny Stone Age village. My job was to reattach the youngest’s little pinecone figure’s legs over and over again.

We all sprawled on the ground, our faces very close to the earth. It’s truly grounding, being able to smell the earth, notice even the smallest details, and feel the soft moss and the prickling of pine needles in your palms. Perhaps this is exactly why I felt so calm and serene for the rest of the day.

I lay down on the rock and could have easily fallen asleep there, in the warmth of the sun and the sound of the children playing. It was so warm I was able to imagine that it was still summer.

Then it was time to head back. The wind had picked up a little, and the water rippled in small waves against the boards. The children paddled steadily, their movements growing more confident with every trip.

And what would an island trip be without a little moment of excitement? I noticed the youngest starting to nod off in the quiet. All that fresh air had made her so sleepy. I managed to keep her awake by chatting along the way.

We made it safely back to the cottage dock, got briefly stuck on the shallow bottom at the last moment, and wriggled the last few inches onto the swim ladder.

This trip was wonderful, possibly the last paddleboard trip for this year, at least with the children. Hopefully, we’ll still have time for a few small trips to this island by rowboat.

Until next time! Wishing you a wonderful day! 🌿

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📌 Curious about the island’s mossy rocks? Read also: