We have a child who, to put it mildly, can be difficult at times. She’s intense, opinionated, stubborn, and argumentative. I love her for it. Her spunk will serve her well in life, but it can be a challenge. Fortunately, she’s not always this way. She has an alter ego when she’s in the great outdoors. When she’s outside, she’s light and carefree—still determined and competitive but playful. When I say outside, I don’t mean in the backyard or at the local playground. She’s at her best in forests, on sand dunes, and in other wide-open spaces. It’s like she’s breathing in contentment, and breathing out frustration, as she navigates trails, races down the ski hill, or ambles along the beach hunting rocks at the edge of the surf. This brings Heather and me great pleasure. It’s exactly the sort of transformation we sought when we made the decision to …