03/10/2026
THE FIRST FIRE
He said, that only took 2 seconds to light! And he smiled. Yesterday I taught a 10 year old boy how to build a fire so he and his Mom could enjoy the old time tin outdoor hot tub up on cinder blocks at the Treehouse on The Magic Land.
This was their second stay in the last 3 weeks. The weather was freezing on their initial adventure to our Treehouse and it was a cozy indoor time. Yesterday it was 75. Ah, the weather in Missouri.
He had been thinking about this hot tub every moment since his eyes landed on the concept. Kids love it, parents cannot believe it is magical until they climb in the steamy bath they to took 3 hours to heat and kick back to listen to the great horned owls and to watch the big country stars.
We must gather teeny tiny sticks, I said, let's go find a cedar tree. I showed him if they bend they are green, if the break they are ready to burn. We gathered oak twigs and pinecones that had fallen off the sacred tall pines that sound like ocean waves when the wind blows through them.
He was frustrated because the lighter he was playing with in the fire pit would ignite a dried leaf and a few pine needles but it would not stay lit. His first attempt failed.
I could not walk away to begin my day after our free family coaching session I am offering this spring to all who stay, knowing this little boy wanted to get in that hot tub.
It was actually the second fail as he and his Mom tried the night before, she sharing that her husband was an Eagle Scout and could have lit the fire easily.
As Mom's we want to be fun and to provide experiences for our little boys because we wish to create great memories we can share. And when we have yet to learn the skills it can be frustrating and disappointing.
Let's pretend we are lost in the woods, I shared as he jumped in on my fantasy. And we don't know how long we will be lost and we only have one butane lighter for survival. Okay, he said, as we picked up branches from the night before and our handfuls of the littlest sticks we could break off the cedar tree.
We layered leaves and pine needles our bundle of gold from the cedar and different sized sticks in a tipi. Look at the air and space between the sticks I mentioned and he said, I see.
We have a disadvantage and an advantage for us today, do you know what they are? I asked as the introverted boy began answering my questions.
The wind, he said. Exactly! I replied, that can be a big disadvantage trying to light the fire so we will need to protect the flame 🔥.
What is our advantage? He answered quickly with a wise observation. I said, actually our disadvantage is also our advantage too. Remember when you were blowing on the fire with the leaves and all the smoke was filling your lungs?
Yes, he said still coughing a bit.
The wind will help keep the fire going. He jumped in yes by feeding it more oxygen. We were now a team on a mission.
His Mom had wondered off into the woods with the cart I suggested they fill with kindling and she was having her own sacred quiet time breaking up small branches and collecting pine needles off the forest floor while we focused on fire.
We finally had the ideal set and I asked him how long it took to prepare our perfect prefire set up?
About 30 minutes, he said.
Yes. It seems like it's a big job to take so much time in the beginning, but the night before they took a couple twigs and attempted to light a log. No luck.
So he had seen what lack of preparation did the night before and how many women truly know how to light a fire? I didn't before buying The Magic Land Homestead. I was clueless.
We need a fire swoosher, I said and he looked curiously at me and repeated because whenever I say it everyone has to mimic me and say fire swoosher???
Not to take away from the drama, but a fire swoosher is a big plastic lid off one of those storage boxes.They make the perfect bellows and keep your lungs from betting smoked out.
Ready, I said. Yes, he replied with enthusiasm and excitement. We guarded the fire with a tent of big dry oak leaves and click when the butane flame. The sticks and leaves and pine needs glowed. How many seconds did it take to light out fire?
2 seconds he said with as big of a smile as a quiet boy could show and still be cool.
He fanned the flames with the fire swoosher and we added more and more sticks and finally 3 logs. Hos Mom joined the party as they moved logs from the fire pit where we began the inferno to under the tub.
You've got this! I said, congratulating him on his first fire he learned to build he will never forget his entire life.
And soon he got to climb into that crazy cattle tank knowing he and his Mom won the fire building contest they had with themselves. Who cares if the temperature was only 70? Kids can't wait until it's 100 degrees.
Laura Lynne Dyer
https://airbnb.com/h/treehouseonthemagicland
