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Katy Robin︱Adventure Mom Outdoors

@katyrobinbird

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Became a mama, kept adventuring
🏔️ Inspiring families to explore outside
✨ Connected parenting
🌎 Raising capable, healthy, resilient kids — together

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“You got it,” my 2.5 year old daughter said to her Papa (dad). He’s always spoken this way to her, and in this moment, she reflected that same support and love right back to him. And it continue today, 3.5 years later.

I’ve watched my husband build a deep connection with our children over the years that inspires me. I’ve watched him do the healing work within, so he can show up for them so beautifully in the ways they need. He’s always learning about himself and the nuances of their personalities, and doing so authentically, so he can support them to grow into healthy, resilient individuals who believe in themselves. It’s amazing to witness.

Because of that, our kids are thriving. Because of that, I feel supported as their mother. Because of the kind of support he models now, this is the standard they’ll carry into their own relationships.

The night we met, I knew he would change my life. I instantly felt safe and understood in a way I never had before. My best friend was there, witnessing our first interaction, and she saw it too. So much so that the person who never records video captured the moment, and you hear her in the background say: “you’re gonna want to remember this.”

Now my kids get to feel that every single day.
 Happy Father’s Day @dcmelzer

To all the fathers, grandfathers, uncles who parent, foster dads, kinship caregivers, coaches, and teachers who serve as father figures… #HappyFathersDay

#fatheranddaughter #fatherandson #connectedparenting by @katyrobinbird

“I’ll like lay around the whole day.” The truth comes out. When I shared this video last fall, I didn’t expect the impact it would have. 50+ million views across platforms and thousands of messages letting me know you felt seen, and that you’d finally found the words to communicate your ‘whole self’ to your family.

I get it. Some days we want to zoom, some days we just want to be layer-arounders all day. And life with a zoomer-arounder mama and papa can be rough! 😂 Truth is, newly 5-year-old Emi is part layer-arounder, part zoomer, but she knows when she needs her downtime, just like her mama. Like me, she needs that balance, and it means so much that she can tell me how she feels and knows I’ll support her. ✨

This was Emi’s first time skiing off the very top of Mount Bachelor. She wanted to do it, but once we started down, we quickly realized how steep it was. The snow was firm too, and I could hear the hesitation in her voice. So we took a break right after this exchange. I realized she was too hot, so I peeled off one of her layers, reminded her, “I got you,” and told her I could carry her if she wanted me to. Once I carried her past the steep section and ate some gummies, she asked to keep skiing.

As we skied down, our conversation continued for another five minutes. I sensed there was something deeper going on, so gentle asked then I listened, following up on her thoughts to better understand what she was expressing and feeling. She shared that if she had her way that day, she’d snuggle with her Squishmallows all day, only getting up to brush her teeth… and that she was feeling sick. So we finished the run and went back to our van to snuggle with hot cocoa and a good book.

There’s usually a deeper story, and often we don’t have the words to express it. A good reminder to check in and listen when we’re out on the mountain with our kids, partners, and friends.

#layerarounder #zoomerarounder #skiingwithkids #motheranddaughter by @katyrobinbird

It was never about convincing them they needed to do it by themselves, it’s about showing them I’m here for them, that I believe in them... when they need me to hold their hand, or when they need me to let go.

When I was a new parent (my kids are now 7 and 10) I remember thinking, how will I know when to lend a helping hand, and when to encourage them to do it on their own? It felt—and still feels—daunting. But in the moment, if I’m not sure what to do, I ask myself, what do they need from me to feel supported, connected, to see that I deeply believe in them? I think it’s there that their confidence grows in such an authentic way that it shows up in all they do.

I haven’t perfected what to say when; I’ve honed my ability to tune in to what each of them needs in the moment. Sometimes they’re looking for encouragement to do it on their own. Sometimes they just need me to hold their hand. I don’t always do it perfectly, but I’m learning as I go, with kids in tow, and they are teaching me so much.

“Can you help me?” ✨ “Let’s do it together.” will forever be one of my favorite dialogues as a parent. It says so much.

#connectedparenting #unfilteredmotherhood #outdoormom by @katyrobinbird

I vote for them. My children. Your children. All of our children. Election Day is today, November 3rd.

Our children deserve to be safe. To have access to healthcare, housing, education, clean water and air, and the natural world. To grow up with freedom, opportunity, and a sense of belonging. To be loved and accepted for who they are.

Our children don’t have a vote yet. But they have a future. And we have a voice. Vote like a mother.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” — Margaret Mead

HOW TO VOTE TODAY 🗳️

1. Already registered? Find your polling place, check what ID you may need, and cast your ballot. Vote.org can help.

2. Not sure who or what you’re voting for? Visit @vote411 , a nonpartisan resource from the League of Women Voters, to explore candidates and ballot issues in your community. For information about issues affecting mothers and families, explore Vote Mama Foundation, @momsrising , @votelikeamother , @voteforyourdaughter @chamberofmothers .

3. Need childcare to vote? Check out Politisit.org, a nonprofit helping parents access free or subsidized childcare to get to the polls. Availability varies by location.

4. Not registered? You may still be able to vote! 21 states and Washington, D.C. allow eligible residents to register in person and vote on Election Day. Visit @votedotgov or your state election office to check the rules and where to go. Not every polling location offers registration.

Questions or problems at the polls? Call the nonpartisan Election Protection hotline: 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683). by @katyrobinbird

A little backstory you may not know about me ⬆️… and why hosting the Girl Winter Film Festival this week means so much. From making a ski film with an all-women cast and crew in 2012 to hosting with my kids by my side in 2025—and again this year—it’s all there in the carousel.

This isn’t just about skiing. It’s about a collective of artists, filmmakers, storytellers, athletes, and dreamers making the outdoor industry more inclusive and amplifying the voices of women, people of color, Indigenous people, people with disabilities, and gender-nonconforming people.

I can’t wait to see what the next generation does.

Should we make a ski film? 👀 by @katyrobinbird

My heart pounding as I sprinted side by side with my siblings from house to house, shrieking with pure joy. Our pillowcases overflowing with candy. The giddiness every time someone opened their door, and shouting “Trick or treat!” and watching the candy drop into our bags.

Coming home exhausted but somehow finding the energy to stay up late sorting every last piece of candy by type and color. The kind of joy you feel in your whole body.

And now I get to experience it all over again, through my kids. ❤️ I love this night 🎃.

👻 What’s your favorite childhood Halloween memory? by @katyrobinbird

A sled and a tow rope, always. Or some mechanism to carry a child (s). And then everything else you can imagine. Kidding, not kidding 😂🥰

You want a list though, don’t you? I’ve been taking babies, toddlers, and kids into the winter elements for 10.5 years now, and sharing about it along the way, so I guess I’ve learned a few things. Going to narrow this down to the essentials:

* Patience. And a pillow to scream into when you lose it. J/K, snow is pretty insulating. That’ll do. ❄️
* Food for YOU. I always forget that part. 🍕
* Layers for YOU. Because you’ll either freeze going at their pace or overheat carrying them and all their stuff.
* Extra mittens for them. They WILL get wet, no matter how waterproof they claim to be. 🧤
* Variation of layers because they will be hot then cold then hot again. 🧥
* Hand & Toe warmers.
* Candy for bribery. And just SO many snacks. 🍫
* Hot cocoa in a thermos. With little mugs and those tiny marshmallows. It’s like gold out there.
* Sunscreen. Snow reflects sunlight! ☀️
* Water. A no-brainer, but surprisingly easy to forget.
* A sled and tow rope. Because they WILL get tired, or they just need the emotional support of a mama carry. 
Whatever it takes, because so often, once you’re out there, it’s magical. ✨ And if you ask me for advice on gear recommendations for kids I’ll point you to @reimanorthamerica for the kids and @stio for you, because those are what we use and trust. I have codes for both, just DM me. by @katyrobinbird

Keeping our boys talking to us doesn’t happen just because we’re their parent. It’s a daily practice.

With my 10-year-old, we get into it—the fun stuff to the hard stuff, the friend stuff, the tiny observations and deep perspectives. My hope is to keep it going as he grows. At this age, entering tween-dom, I’m recognizing just how much he needs my emotional connection, mentorship, and patience—perhaps now more than ever.

This is what I’m learning… he’s been teaching me all along.

1. Take time for real connection first. Talk comes after.
2. Be genuinely interested in what he loves. Minecraft, Pokémon, his friends… talk about those things first. Deep talk comes after.
3. Be tuned in and available to him.
4. Movement, with me, in nature, because that’s where we both regulate. And when we feel regulated and safe, sharing comes more easily. It’s okay if we don’t talk every time.
5. He needs me to chill on the harping because I have preconceived expectations of what being 10 means.
6. To go to him when he can’t fall asleep, and rub his back. He might just tell me about the book he’s reading before facing me and letting out the hard stuff too.
7. He needs to know I get it, or have compassion even when I don’t get it. Sharing a story of my own that parallels his has always helped him open up.
8. I’m embracing the paradoxes of this age… learning how important it is to let him shine in his newfound independence while also holding his hand through the intensity of becoming more aware of himself and his place in the world.

Long before I had kids, getting people to share with me was my profession as a documentary filmmaker. And so much of what I learned then, Elliot is reminding me of now: don’t come with an agenda or something you hope to hear. Connection through being genuinely present is everything. They’ll see right through the fake. Listen to what they’re saying and follow their lead in conversation. And share your stories too. As @attachmentnerd says, “Boys are emotional beings who deserve emotional support.”

If your kiddo isn’t opening up to you, if you’re starting now, it’s not too late. It takes time, and y by @katyrobinbird

I didn’t want to lose myself… so I became a mama, and kept on skiing. ✨

Ten & a half years ago when my first baby was born, I had no idea how my passion for skiing would fit into this new life, but I had to trust I’d find a way.

I knew it had been done — Hilaree Nelson, Kit DesLauriers — professional skiers who became moms and kept skiing, with Ingrid Backstrom beginning her mama journey the same year as me. But I craved the details of how they did it. So I figured it out and shared it along the way.

Skiing has always been more than a hobby. It’s my anchor, grounding me, healing me, freeing me. It’s carried me through my hardest chapters, marked my most thrilling highs, and it’s where my filmmaking began… and continues.

So, I found my rhythm breastfeeding before alpine starts, pumping at trailheads and on skin tracks, training while babies slept — running with the stroller, pulling them in a sled while I skinned uphill, strength training to rebuild my core after my C-section. I surrounded myself with mama athletes who really supported each other. We’d share pumped breast milk, be patient with delayed ski departures, even nurse each other’s babies when ski days ran long.

Ends up, motherhood wasn’t the end of my passion for skiing. I didn’t lose myself — I transformed. And my passion did too, in ways I never could have imagined. By holding space for skiing and the mountains, I shaped my motherhood into something that brings out the best in me, for me and for my kids.

These days, shredding powder while shouting Miley Cyrus lyrics with my seven-year-old, or zooming down chutes with my ten-year-old, brings me just as much joy as a deep backcountry line with girlfriends. Skiing regulates them too, and connects us as a family. And now as a content creator, I surround myself with brands who support women in the mountains, too. This year, @blizzard_tecnica is celebrating 11 years of their #Women2Women program. Women2Women is more than a program — it’s a community built on listening, learning, and lifting each other up through education, inspiration, and shared experience.

#skimom #skiingwithkids by @katyrobinbird

Watching Doug dance with Emi, I see that same safety I felt that first night. And now I get to watch both our kids grow up with it. Safe to be themselves. Loved as they are.

Doug messaged me on a dating site. I responded. We went on a first date at a fundraiser dance. We just knew that first night that we’d found our person… but it wasn’t love at first sight because it had so much more to do than just sight. It was how I felt more myself with him than I ever had with anyone before.

My bestie Anna saw it too. This was 2015 and I’d barely ever seen her use her phone for texting or taking pictures, but there she was filming this moment between Doug and me, matter-of-factly saying, “So there, I’ve got it, so they can see…”

She and I walked home that night, and I turned to her and said, “Anna, I just met my person.” She responded, “I know.”

The following year we had our first child, and on February 5th, exactly four years after our first date, I went into labor with our second baby, Emi.

He’s still my person. I’m his. And now we have two little persons we made and are raising together. #grateful #foundmyperson #loveatfirstsight by @katyrobinbird

It started as a silly little moment to help regulate the nerves of my tiny traveler, and somewhere along the way, it became our tradition. One that Emi embraced and made their own, and growing a little more confident with every adventure. 
I’ve learned that resilience isn’t about becoming less sensitive to overstimulation or tolerating environments that overwhelm you. It’s about developing the tools, self-awareness, confidence, and support to navigate difficult experiences without having to change who you are. 
Travel is intense for everyone, and it can especially trigger all the things for families like ours, differently wired, that is (aka neurospicy). But as a lifelong traveler, now exploring the world with my children, I’ve realized that so many of the tools I’ve developed to navigate the chaos and overstimulation of travel are useful for all of us, neurospicy or not. From slowly packing weeks ahead of time, to getting “situated” at our gate with a favorite treat before we even think about wandering the airport shops.

But this post isn’t really about airplane travel. It’s about life, and creating little waypoints, rituals that help us find ourselves or each other when the world is swirling all around us. Little moments of connection that help us find our footing when everything feels a little too much.

And the fact that one of ours happens in airport bathrooms makes it that much more hilarious. 😂 Because humor really is our superpower when our nervous systems are turned up to 11.

Find your rituals, find the humor, find your footing, get “situated,” and keep exploring.

“Come on, Mama. We need our exhausted post-trip selfie!”

#familytravel by @katyrobinbird

“Find it by searching other places you believe in yourself... then start little. Then every day get bigger and bigger at it.” — Emi, age 4.

A little wisdom for all of us from a toddler in a puffy ski suit on a chairlift. Kids carry such big wisdom in their tiny voices... if we ask them and listen.

This chairlift conversation came about after I’d shared a video of Emi talking about confidence while skiing down a steep run, and one of you asked, “Emi, how can an adult get their belief back in themself when they’ve lost it?”

What I love about Emi’s response is that she wasn’t simply suggesting we start small and build from there. She went a little deeper. She suggested that if you’ve lost your confidence, think about something else you believe in yourself doing, or a time in your life when you did. Remember what that confidence felt like, and carry a little of it with you as you start little… then get bigger and bigger.

I love the idea that self-belief isn’t something we have to build from scratch every time we face something new. That we can draw from the confidence we’ve already built in other parts of our lives, even when what we’re facing feels completely different. And like Emi says, it’s a little like “how Elliot builds @lego .” You start with something small and keep adding to it, figuring things out as you go.

Sometimes the confidence we’re searching for isn’t lost. It’s already there, somewhere within us. Maybe a bit murky, but still there. We just have to remember where to look. 🤍

#skiingwithkids #wisdomofchildren by @katyrobinbird