When we were at Bread & Chocolate for lunch today (I told Rachel that when it's a bit cooler outside this fall, we should all bike to this restaurant for brunch, since they have Nutella pancakes, and she thought that was a terrific idea. As do us all.), Rachel kept asking us when the server would bring the bread she had promised.
"You're so impatient!' I said.
"I'm like Phaeton wanting to drive Apollo's chariot!" she responded, and there was really nothing I could say in reply. Thankfully, the bread arrived soon after.
Monday, August 31, 2015
Bataan Death March Bike Ride
Years ago, when we lived in Oregon and Rachel hadn't been born, Drew and I took a wonderful two-week hiking/camping/Oregon Shakespeare Festival trip around the state. Of all the places I've been, that remains one of my favorite vacations.
One difficult part of it -- for Drew, anyway -- was the time we hiked through the Wallowa Mountains. We must have gone 20 miles, and by the end he had blisters on his feet and was limping and exhausted. I, of course, was so chipper that I said, "We should do this again tomorrow!" Whereupon Drew exploded and basically said, NO, he needed to rest. "I am NOT going on another Lisa Bataan Death March hike!" he said, and I cracked up, and it has since become a running joke with us.
I guess you could describe today's 20-mile bike ride into Alexandria as a similar event. I had planned on us all going to Baltimore -- Drew has the week off; Rachel doesn't have camp; I wasn't scheduled to work tonight -- but then Rachel said she really wanted to do a family bike ride. In typical DeSilver/Lednicer fashion, we woke up late (Drew is fighting a cold) and didn't get going until noon. But Rachel said we should try to make it Mount Vernon after I had suggested that idea, more as a joke than anything else, and so we set off.
I was convinced that TLG (The Little Girl) would want to turn back, but no, she kept on going until we all got to Alexandria at around 2 and decided that Rachel and I needed snacks (Drew insisted he wasn't hungry). We stopped at a favorite little lunch spot we know called Bread & Chocolate and had some quiche, salad and chicken -- Drew just ate bread -- and drinks. Then it was on to Ben & Jerry's for ice cream. At that point, Drew announced that he was tired and didn't think he could make it 12 more miles to Mount Vernon. I offered to take Rachel with me, but Rachel vetoed that idea -- "I want us to have a FAMILY bike ride," she said, and so we all agreed to turn back.
The ride back was way more difficult -- the sun had come out (it had been overcast in the morning), the wind was against us and Rachel was really having a tough time (Drew was queasy and had a headache), and we kept having to stop. When we finally made it home around 7 (we had left at noon), we estimated we had ridden 20 miles. TWENTY MILES!! And this kid had just gone on a few tiny practice rides with her new bike, and we dragged her on a 20-MILE BIKE RIDE. What were we thinking?!?! But she was a smash success, and we told her over and over again how proud we were of her, and gave her lots of hugs and kisses, and now she and Drew are upstairs, collapsed in their beds, and I am trying to decide whether it's worth it to try to make dinner or whether everyone is out for the night. I believe the latter.
One difficult part of it -- for Drew, anyway -- was the time we hiked through the Wallowa Mountains. We must have gone 20 miles, and by the end he had blisters on his feet and was limping and exhausted. I, of course, was so chipper that I said, "We should do this again tomorrow!" Whereupon Drew exploded and basically said, NO, he needed to rest. "I am NOT going on another Lisa Bataan Death March hike!" he said, and I cracked up, and it has since become a running joke with us.
I guess you could describe today's 20-mile bike ride into Alexandria as a similar event. I had planned on us all going to Baltimore -- Drew has the week off; Rachel doesn't have camp; I wasn't scheduled to work tonight -- but then Rachel said she really wanted to do a family bike ride. In typical DeSilver/Lednicer fashion, we woke up late (Drew is fighting a cold) and didn't get going until noon. But Rachel said we should try to make it Mount Vernon after I had suggested that idea, more as a joke than anything else, and so we set off.
I was convinced that TLG (The Little Girl) would want to turn back, but no, she kept on going until we all got to Alexandria at around 2 and decided that Rachel and I needed snacks (Drew insisted he wasn't hungry). We stopped at a favorite little lunch spot we know called Bread & Chocolate and had some quiche, salad and chicken -- Drew just ate bread -- and drinks. Then it was on to Ben & Jerry's for ice cream. At that point, Drew announced that he was tired and didn't think he could make it 12 more miles to Mount Vernon. I offered to take Rachel with me, but Rachel vetoed that idea -- "I want us to have a FAMILY bike ride," she said, and so we all agreed to turn back.
The ride back was way more difficult -- the sun had come out (it had been overcast in the morning), the wind was against us and Rachel was really having a tough time (Drew was queasy and had a headache), and we kept having to stop. When we finally made it home around 7 (we had left at noon), we estimated we had ridden 20 miles. TWENTY MILES!! And this kid had just gone on a few tiny practice rides with her new bike, and we dragged her on a 20-MILE BIKE RIDE. What were we thinking?!?! But she was a smash success, and we told her over and over again how proud we were of her, and gave her lots of hugs and kisses, and now she and Drew are upstairs, collapsed in their beds, and I am trying to decide whether it's worth it to try to make dinner or whether everyone is out for the night. I believe the latter.
A quiet weekend
Drew and I had an unexpected date night on Friday because Ivy was finally back in town after three weeks in California, and her mom agreed to let Rachel come over for a sleepover. So, Drew and I managed to get a table at the Green Pig Bistro in Clarendon, which I have been wanting to try for a while, and then dessert at a place next door called the Bakeshop, with out-of-this-world cookies and ice-cream sandwiches. And then we saw the new Mission Impossible movie! It reminded us of when we used to be spontaneous in Portland, pre-Rachel.
This whole weekend was more relaxed than usual -- we had to ditch plans to go to Philadelphia because of financial concerns, and Rachel's brownie troop was holding a get-together at a local playground, anyway, so we decided to stay in town. I took Rachel to the get-together, following her on her new bike with gears and hand brakes (thanks again, Grandma and Grandpa!), and she insisted on doing some practice loops in the grass at the park. She fell a couple of times, but at least it was on grass. The get-together was okay; there is a new girl in the troop named Daggie (after an Ayn Rand character, her mom said, hastening to add that she doesn't agree with everything that Rand has to say) and Kira and April (Kira is Rachel's bestie) brought their dog, Sparky, that Rachel kept wanting to take for a walk -- she really needs a pet, but the owners of our house have vetoed all animals, including guinea pigs, hamsters and the like.
After the get-together, Rachel and I went to Tyson's Corner mall to shop for Drew's 50th birthday, which took most of the afternoon. When we got back, we were so tired that we fell asleep for about two hours. Then we decided to bike to a nearby playground, where we stayed for a half hour. We went to the Stray Cat for dinner, then tried a new ice-cream shop in Falls Church, which turned out to be EXCELLENT. And when we got home, it was so late that we just crashed.
On Sunday we had a lovely, if brief, visit with Uncle Dan and ended up spending most of the time talking about...computers, which was way more interesting than it sounds. And then Drew dropped me off at the Shady Grove Metro, and I took the train in to work. Had never taken that route before and it was interesting -- it's literally at the end of the line. Got into work a few minutes late, but otherwise, it was an uneventful night. Sundays usually are.
This whole weekend was more relaxed than usual -- we had to ditch plans to go to Philadelphia because of financial concerns, and Rachel's brownie troop was holding a get-together at a local playground, anyway, so we decided to stay in town. I took Rachel to the get-together, following her on her new bike with gears and hand brakes (thanks again, Grandma and Grandpa!), and she insisted on doing some practice loops in the grass at the park. She fell a couple of times, but at least it was on grass. The get-together was okay; there is a new girl in the troop named Daggie (after an Ayn Rand character, her mom said, hastening to add that she doesn't agree with everything that Rand has to say) and Kira and April (Kira is Rachel's bestie) brought their dog, Sparky, that Rachel kept wanting to take for a walk -- she really needs a pet, but the owners of our house have vetoed all animals, including guinea pigs, hamsters and the like.
After the get-together, Rachel and I went to Tyson's Corner mall to shop for Drew's 50th birthday, which took most of the afternoon. When we got back, we were so tired that we fell asleep for about two hours. Then we decided to bike to a nearby playground, where we stayed for a half hour. We went to the Stray Cat for dinner, then tried a new ice-cream shop in Falls Church, which turned out to be EXCELLENT. And when we got home, it was so late that we just crashed.
On Sunday we had a lovely, if brief, visit with Uncle Dan and ended up spending most of the time talking about...computers, which was way more interesting than it sounds. And then Drew dropped me off at the Shady Grove Metro, and I took the train in to work. Had never taken that route before and it was interesting -- it's literally at the end of the line. Got into work a few minutes late, but otherwise, it was an uneventful night. Sundays usually are.
A visit from an old friend
Jeannette McAllister, a friend I've had since about kindergarten, was in town this past week to drop her second-oldest daughter, Regan, off at George Washington University. Even in the midst of all the stuff she had to help her daughter with, Jeannette managed to squeeze in time for lunch with me, which was a big deal for both of us.
We managed to talk for more than 2 hours -- we essentially caught up after about 20 years of being apart and keeping in contact only through Facebook -- about everything: Kids, friends, parents, jobs, husbands, etc. It was one of those great afternoons that left me smiling as I went in to work. Her oldest daughter, Cassidy, is a junior at Northeastern and her youngest, Cameron, is in 5th grade. I told her we would definitely invite Regan over for dinner (and send her back to her dorm with yummy leftovers so she won't, you know, starve:)). So excited that we'll get to know her, since I'm eager to see how similar she is to one of my oldest friends!
We managed to talk for more than 2 hours -- we essentially caught up after about 20 years of being apart and keeping in contact only through Facebook -- about everything: Kids, friends, parents, jobs, husbands, etc. It was one of those great afternoons that left me smiling as I went in to work. Her oldest daughter, Cassidy, is a junior at Northeastern and her youngest, Cameron, is in 5th grade. I told her we would definitely invite Regan over for dinner (and send her back to her dorm with yummy leftovers so she won't, you know, starve:)). So excited that we'll get to know her, since I'm eager to see how similar she is to one of my oldest friends!
Saturday, August 29, 2015
An Oregon weekend
Last weekend, friends of ours from Oregon happened to be in town for work-related reasons, so we spent a fair amount of time with them. Melissa and I met at a Northwestern Alumni Association picnic in Portland soon after I left the Oregonian, and became fast friends -- she was head of the board of the Oregon Ballet Theater and got me into a lot of backstage events when I bought tickets. She has a daughter, Natalie, now 14, and a son, Jeremy, 16 (who was not with them on this trip), and a husband, Steve, a financial planner.
We all met at the Phillips Collection and had a lovely time exploring the country's "first modern art museum." I discovered two artists who had been born in Portland, and there was a lot of photography and a beautiful wood-paneled library on the ground floor, which had been part of the house that was now a museum. Rachel's attention flagged after two hours or so, and after we said our goodbyes, Drew, Rachel and I played a game Rachel invented with Scrabble pieces called "Make Words." We each got 10 letters and had to connect them to each other as fast as we could. It turned out to be pretty fun, and we played it in the cafe until it closed at 5.
Then we wandered around Dupont Circle for a while until it was time to head to the baseball game, where we met Melissa and her family for a Nationals/Brewers game at 7:30. We were in the cheap seats, but the view was terrific and it was a great game -- the Nats won! -- and I enjoyed talking to Melissa. We said our final farewells outside the ballpark, and I raced into the team store to buy a Nats shirt (Rachel already has one), and then we took the Metro back to East Falls Church, where we'd parked our car that morning when we headed to the museum. That's what I love about this city, that you can get on the Metro in the morning and come back late at night, doing everything by subway. Such a change from my life in Oregon.
On Sunday, we went to the annual summer Northwestern Alumni Association picnic in a park in Arlington. I met someone who graduated from Medill in 1989, and we talked up a storm after discovering we have a friend in common who lives in Minnesota. We also gave some advice to an incoming Medill student. Drew took Rachel to her swim lesson and I went in to work. All in all, it was a very busy weekend!
We all met at the Phillips Collection and had a lovely time exploring the country's "first modern art museum." I discovered two artists who had been born in Portland, and there was a lot of photography and a beautiful wood-paneled library on the ground floor, which had been part of the house that was now a museum. Rachel's attention flagged after two hours or so, and after we said our goodbyes, Drew, Rachel and I played a game Rachel invented with Scrabble pieces called "Make Words." We each got 10 letters and had to connect them to each other as fast as we could. It turned out to be pretty fun, and we played it in the cafe until it closed at 5.
Then we wandered around Dupont Circle for a while until it was time to head to the baseball game, where we met Melissa and her family for a Nationals/Brewers game at 7:30. We were in the cheap seats, but the view was terrific and it was a great game -- the Nats won! -- and I enjoyed talking to Melissa. We said our final farewells outside the ballpark, and I raced into the team store to buy a Nats shirt (Rachel already has one), and then we took the Metro back to East Falls Church, where we'd parked our car that morning when we headed to the museum. That's what I love about this city, that you can get on the Metro in the morning and come back late at night, doing everything by subway. Such a change from my life in Oregon.
On Sunday, we went to the annual summer Northwestern Alumni Association picnic in a park in Arlington. I met someone who graduated from Medill in 1989, and we talked up a storm after discovering we have a friend in common who lives in Minnesota. We also gave some advice to an incoming Medill student. Drew took Rachel to her swim lesson and I went in to work. All in all, it was a very busy weekend!
Cinderella
Rachel has read many, many versions of Cinderella, all differently (but beautifully) illustrated. After Drew checked out what seemed to be the 3,498th version, he said, "Why are you so obsessed with Cinderella?"
"Stop it, Daddy!" Rachel said. "I find it a very compelling story."
Nothing much more he could say after that.
"Stop it, Daddy!" Rachel said. "I find it a very compelling story."
Nothing much more he could say after that.
Vacation!
Two weeks since we got back from Oregon, and everything has been in a whirlwind with the end of summer and beginning of school. Here is a recap of our vacation:
--We arrived on Friday, Aug. 8, 90 minutes after our scheduled arrival time (thanks, United!) and then the rental-car place said they didn't have a car seat (even after Drew confirmed they would the day before). When the guy asked if she could sit in a baby seat, Drew just exploded: "Have you ever seen a CHILD before?" He finally borrowed one from another rental-car place and we were on our way. Result: We didn't get to our hotel and into bed until 1:30 a.m. Pacific Time, 4:30 a.m. East Coast Time. Did that faze Rachel at all? NO. The only hint of annoyance was when she muttered softly, "grumble grumble grumble," at one point. She is a GREAT travel companion.
--On Saturday we hit the Portland Farmers Market -- got a bunch of fruit, ate lunch from the food carts and had Ruby Jewel ice cream sandwiches, then met Rachel's friend Devin from preschool and Devin's mom, Linda (her husband, Jim, was completing the purchase of a new Volvo). We went to Linda and Jim's, and I watched the girls dress up and watch TV while Linda went to help Jim with the car purchase and Drew bought cupcakes at our favorite cupcake place, St. Cupcake, to bring to our friend Amy's that night for dinner. We all had about 45 minutes to catch up before we had to head over to Amy's -- and we all agreed that the visit was too short. Perhaps next year we can visit them at their vacation place in Bend. Then we went to Amy's house, and Rachel played with her sons Tony and Jake in their newly built treehouse while Amy and I caught up. We went back to our hotel to get a good night's sleep before the next day, when we planned to head to the Coast.
--On Sunday we had a quick breakfast and then a change of plan -- instead of heading to Florence, on the southern part of the Oregon Coast, we headed north to Cannon Beach. On the way we stopped for lunch and a tour of the Tillamook Cheese Factory (and ice cream, of course!) then spent the afternoon on surprisingly warm Cannon Beach -- the water was mild enough for walking in, if not swimming. By the time we got off the beach the clouds had rolled in and it was freezing, so we waited at a nearby hotel, the Tolovana Inn, for Drew to bring the car around. On the way to dinner at a place overlooking the ocean, we stopped by the side of the road and picked as many blackberries as we could from a bush growing wild. After dinner we headed back to our hotel. It was possibly the most perfect day of vacation.
--On Monday Drew took Rachel to Powell's (where against my wishes, they bought several books), while I met a colleague from The Post at Screen Door, a Southern-food restaurant I had always wanted to try when we lived there, but there was always a line (and the food wasn't even that good, I regret to say). They picked me up in the afternoon and then we got more cupcakes to bring to our friends Jeff and Erica (and their daughter, Sunny, who is Rachel's age and one of her few Jewish friends in Portland). They grilled burgers and corn, and the girls insisted on putting on a show for us (and Rachel dressed up in a green sequined dress that took my breath away). We stayed way too late, but it was a joy to catch up with them as they ponder whether to stay in PDX or move somewhere else for better job opportunities for Jeff, an insurance compliance specialist. Rachel had an especially good time playing with their guinea pig, Sir Cuddles.
--On Tuesday we stopped at a new donut place, Blue Star donuts, for breakfast treats for Anne and David, and then I noticed a shoe shop that sold children's Keens, so I bought a pair for Rachel (no sales tax, I might add). Then we got our last batch of cupcakes and headed to the Columbia River Gorge to show Rachel Vista House (where you get a great view of the Columbia), and Bridal Veil and Multnomah Falls (where my camera decided to stop working -- boo!). We got to Anne and David's quite late, but they were very forgiving and immediately whipped up salmon and rice (and oohed and aahed over the donuts and cupcakes).
--On Wednesday we thought of going to Lake Samammish, but the weather was terrible -- it rained and thundered most of the day, and Rachel was so terrified at one point that she brought her entire suitcase and book bag's worth of stuff downstairs because she was scared that a hurricane would destroy the house (she had gotten that idea into her head after hearing Anne say that the storm was very unusual -- and so, Rachel had assumed that this meant the End Times; poor kid!). We all ended up reading and taking naps while Drew went into Seattle (in the hail, at one point) to meet up with former colleagues from the Seattle Times. On the way back he stopped at Top Pot donuts and the guy gave him 6 free because it was so close to closing time. We had dinner that night with Ron Wiener, 2nd cousin to me, and it was great to meet him -- he is a super-nice guy and at one point turned to Rachel and said, "Is it legal in D.C. for kids to be as cute as you are?" Next time we hope to meet his family and spend more time together.
--On Thursday we went to Lake Sammamish. It was hot outside -- 85 or so -- but not humid. I went in the lake with Rachel three times and the water was cold but refreshing. The rest of the time I read and lay in the sun. I walked back to the car with my bathing suit top on and my towel wrapped around my waist, thinking how much I love being able to walk around in a bathing suit in hot (but not unbearable weather). I whipped up dinner that night -- mustard chicken and popovers -- and they turned out pretty okay.
--On Friday we headed back to Portland for a very early flight out on Saturday. We stopped at Pike Place and met Amanda and Jenn for lunch, then headed south to get to Kenny & Zuke's, our favorite Portland deli, right before they closed, and managed to squeeze in a visit to Ben & Jerry's ice cream for dessert. We were staying at a Holiday Inn close to the airport, so after a few hours' sleep, it was up and out to our plane. Never did Rachel whine or crab about the early hour -- it helped that the flights out and back were nonstop -- and when we got home, we ate dinner at our favorite Lebanese place and gelato at a nearby pizza place -- all for a soft landing back home.
--We arrived on Friday, Aug. 8, 90 minutes after our scheduled arrival time (thanks, United!) and then the rental-car place said they didn't have a car seat (even after Drew confirmed they would the day before). When the guy asked if she could sit in a baby seat, Drew just exploded: "Have you ever seen a CHILD before?" He finally borrowed one from another rental-car place and we were on our way. Result: We didn't get to our hotel and into bed until 1:30 a.m. Pacific Time, 4:30 a.m. East Coast Time. Did that faze Rachel at all? NO. The only hint of annoyance was when she muttered softly, "grumble grumble grumble," at one point. She is a GREAT travel companion.
--On Saturday we hit the Portland Farmers Market -- got a bunch of fruit, ate lunch from the food carts and had Ruby Jewel ice cream sandwiches, then met Rachel's friend Devin from preschool and Devin's mom, Linda (her husband, Jim, was completing the purchase of a new Volvo). We went to Linda and Jim's, and I watched the girls dress up and watch TV while Linda went to help Jim with the car purchase and Drew bought cupcakes at our favorite cupcake place, St. Cupcake, to bring to our friend Amy's that night for dinner. We all had about 45 minutes to catch up before we had to head over to Amy's -- and we all agreed that the visit was too short. Perhaps next year we can visit them at their vacation place in Bend. Then we went to Amy's house, and Rachel played with her sons Tony and Jake in their newly built treehouse while Amy and I caught up. We went back to our hotel to get a good night's sleep before the next day, when we planned to head to the Coast.
--On Sunday we had a quick breakfast and then a change of plan -- instead of heading to Florence, on the southern part of the Oregon Coast, we headed north to Cannon Beach. On the way we stopped for lunch and a tour of the Tillamook Cheese Factory (and ice cream, of course!) then spent the afternoon on surprisingly warm Cannon Beach -- the water was mild enough for walking in, if not swimming. By the time we got off the beach the clouds had rolled in and it was freezing, so we waited at a nearby hotel, the Tolovana Inn, for Drew to bring the car around. On the way to dinner at a place overlooking the ocean, we stopped by the side of the road and picked as many blackberries as we could from a bush growing wild. After dinner we headed back to our hotel. It was possibly the most perfect day of vacation.
--On Monday Drew took Rachel to Powell's (where against my wishes, they bought several books), while I met a colleague from The Post at Screen Door, a Southern-food restaurant I had always wanted to try when we lived there, but there was always a line (and the food wasn't even that good, I regret to say). They picked me up in the afternoon and then we got more cupcakes to bring to our friends Jeff and Erica (and their daughter, Sunny, who is Rachel's age and one of her few Jewish friends in Portland). They grilled burgers and corn, and the girls insisted on putting on a show for us (and Rachel dressed up in a green sequined dress that took my breath away). We stayed way too late, but it was a joy to catch up with them as they ponder whether to stay in PDX or move somewhere else for better job opportunities for Jeff, an insurance compliance specialist. Rachel had an especially good time playing with their guinea pig, Sir Cuddles.
--On Tuesday we stopped at a new donut place, Blue Star donuts, for breakfast treats for Anne and David, and then I noticed a shoe shop that sold children's Keens, so I bought a pair for Rachel (no sales tax, I might add). Then we got our last batch of cupcakes and headed to the Columbia River Gorge to show Rachel Vista House (where you get a great view of the Columbia), and Bridal Veil and Multnomah Falls (where my camera decided to stop working -- boo!). We got to Anne and David's quite late, but they were very forgiving and immediately whipped up salmon and rice (and oohed and aahed over the donuts and cupcakes).
--On Wednesday we thought of going to Lake Samammish, but the weather was terrible -- it rained and thundered most of the day, and Rachel was so terrified at one point that she brought her entire suitcase and book bag's worth of stuff downstairs because she was scared that a hurricane would destroy the house (she had gotten that idea into her head after hearing Anne say that the storm was very unusual -- and so, Rachel had assumed that this meant the End Times; poor kid!). We all ended up reading and taking naps while Drew went into Seattle (in the hail, at one point) to meet up with former colleagues from the Seattle Times. On the way back he stopped at Top Pot donuts and the guy gave him 6 free because it was so close to closing time. We had dinner that night with Ron Wiener, 2nd cousin to me, and it was great to meet him -- he is a super-nice guy and at one point turned to Rachel and said, "Is it legal in D.C. for kids to be as cute as you are?" Next time we hope to meet his family and spend more time together.
--On Thursday we went to Lake Sammamish. It was hot outside -- 85 or so -- but not humid. I went in the lake with Rachel three times and the water was cold but refreshing. The rest of the time I read and lay in the sun. I walked back to the car with my bathing suit top on and my towel wrapped around my waist, thinking how much I love being able to walk around in a bathing suit in hot (but not unbearable weather). I whipped up dinner that night -- mustard chicken and popovers -- and they turned out pretty okay.
--On Friday we headed back to Portland for a very early flight out on Saturday. We stopped at Pike Place and met Amanda and Jenn for lunch, then headed south to get to Kenny & Zuke's, our favorite Portland deli, right before they closed, and managed to squeeze in a visit to Ben & Jerry's ice cream for dessert. We were staying at a Holiday Inn close to the airport, so after a few hours' sleep, it was up and out to our plane. Never did Rachel whine or crab about the early hour -- it helped that the flights out and back were nonstop -- and when we got home, we ate dinner at our favorite Lebanese place and gelato at a nearby pizza place -- all for a soft landing back home.
Another side of Sidney
Last weekend we told Rachel about how men and women sometimes like to shower together as a romantic thing to do. She thought it was completely disgusting and couldn't believe that we (and any other couple) would want to do something like that.
Then she remembered something. She told us separately that Sidney was scrolling through her mom's iPad and came across a picture of her mom and her dad kissing in the shower (I assume it was an above-the-neck shot) and started crying.
"Why do you think she started crying?" I asked carefully.
"Because she's upset that her mom and her dad aren't together anymore," Rachel replied.
She said she and Simone were present when Sidney came across the picture and that they tried to comfort her as best they could. I need to remember this whenever I get frustrated with or appalled by Sidney's behavior.
Then she remembered something. She told us separately that Sidney was scrolling through her mom's iPad and came across a picture of her mom and her dad kissing in the shower (I assume it was an above-the-neck shot) and started crying.
"Why do you think she started crying?" I asked carefully.
"Because she's upset that her mom and her dad aren't together anymore," Rachel replied.
She said she and Simone were present when Sidney came across the picture and that they tried to comfort her as best they could. I need to remember this whenever I get frustrated with or appalled by Sidney's behavior.
Summer Laureates
At the end of Summer Laureates, Rachel's three-week enrichment program in July, the teacher, Ms. Van Hook (the one who had told me the disturbing news about Sydney), gave out progress reports for each of the students. Hers for Rachel read:
--Successfully responded to the fact pace of challenging instruction
--Displayed creativity
--Was inquisitive about various topics
--Successfully completely research/projects
--Was self-directed; was independent
--Participated cooperatively in group activities
Rachel got 5s (the highest) in all categories.
The teacher wrote: "Rachel has shown great enthusiasm for learning throughout the Summer Laureate program. She demonstrated understanding of natural and man-made flight and was already ready to participate! It was a pleasure getting to know her."
We were very pleased.
--Successfully responded to the fact pace of challenging instruction
--Displayed creativity
--Was inquisitive about various topics
--Successfully completely research/projects
--Was self-directed; was independent
--Participated cooperatively in group activities
Rachel got 5s (the highest) in all categories.
The teacher wrote: "Rachel has shown great enthusiasm for learning throughout the Summer Laureate program. She demonstrated understanding of natural and man-made flight and was already ready to participate! It was a pleasure getting to know her."
We were very pleased.
Saturday, August 1, 2015
Swimming! A new bike!
We FINALLY took Rachel to get her new bike, a big-girl Trek, from Grandma and Grandpa for Rachel's 7th birthday (thank you, Grandma and Grandpa!). The bike is a little big and it has grown-up gears, so it took quite a while for her to get the hang of it, and at one point, after the bike had fallen on her, she started sobbing and said, "I'll NEVER be able to do this!" I had to lift her up in my arms and remind her that she said the same thing, too, when we took the training wheels off and when she was learning how to swim. She seemed only slightly comforted. It really is a big bike, heavier than her current one, and she'll have to figure out how to brake gently and hop off in one fluid motion. I promised her that she'd be able to do it, it'll just take practice, and so the next few Fridays we're in town, I'll pick her up early from camp and we'll practice on the trail near our house. If it isn't too bloody hot and humid.
Afterward, we headed to Charon's country club; she invited us for a swim today, and we arrived before she did and immediately jumped in, Rachel and I. Rachel is getting quite brave; she jumped off the diving board a couple of times and made me do the same; I had forgotten how fun that was. She and I horsed around for a while; then she and Cameron went and played in the water while Charon and I ordered drinks and talked; then I went back in with Rachel to play in the water and Charon joined us; then I got in a half-mile of swimming in the lap portion of the pool while Drew took Rachel for a hot dog. All in all, it was a great afternoon.
Then we went to FDB for dinner and frozen custard. I've decided their food is pretty awful but the custard is GREAT. Rachel insisted that she wasn't going to eat my ice cream (she just wanted a chocolate waffle cone), but I kept offering her some and she kept saying, "thank you, Mom," and took a few bites before ultimately refusing. She was also reluctant to let our waitress know that she brought her the wrong type of waffle cone ("I don't want to be picky," Rachel said, embarrassed, and Drew reassured her it was okay to let them know that they didn't bring what she wanted; she still looked a bit chagrined. Reassuring to know that she shows no signs of being a restaurant prima donna). Finally she got the right cone, shared my ice cream, and Drew got a chocolate malt, so all turned out well. Really, it was a lovely day.
Afterward, we headed to Charon's country club; she invited us for a swim today, and we arrived before she did and immediately jumped in, Rachel and I. Rachel is getting quite brave; she jumped off the diving board a couple of times and made me do the same; I had forgotten how fun that was. She and I horsed around for a while; then she and Cameron went and played in the water while Charon and I ordered drinks and talked; then I went back in with Rachel to play in the water and Charon joined us; then I got in a half-mile of swimming in the lap portion of the pool while Drew took Rachel for a hot dog. All in all, it was a great afternoon.
Then we went to FDB for dinner and frozen custard. I've decided their food is pretty awful but the custard is GREAT. Rachel insisted that she wasn't going to eat my ice cream (she just wanted a chocolate waffle cone), but I kept offering her some and she kept saying, "thank you, Mom," and took a few bites before ultimately refusing. She was also reluctant to let our waitress know that she brought her the wrong type of waffle cone ("I don't want to be picky," Rachel said, embarrassed, and Drew reassured her it was okay to let them know that they didn't bring what she wanted; she still looked a bit chagrined. Reassuring to know that she shows no signs of being a restaurant prima donna). Finally she got the right cone, shared my ice cream, and Drew got a chocolate malt, so all turned out well. Really, it was a lovely day.
A disturbing conversation
On Friday, Rachel's last day at Summer Laureates, I asked her teacher, Miss Van Hook (she teaches first grade at Glebe Elementary), how Rachel had done.
Her face dropped and she said: "Sydney." And then I got an earful.
It seems that she was mean to Rachel for the entire three weeks -- saying hurtful, mean things, and Rachel would say hurtful, mean things back -- and then the next minute they'd be best friends again. "This is the kind of thing you don't see until middle school," Miss Van Hook said. She told me just how much a terror Sydney had been -- stealing other kids' stuff, pinning the kids physically against each other, scribbling all over other kids' projects, dumping glue in the middle of a group project, then crying and acting as if someone else did it (but the other kids made sure that Miss Van Hook knew that it was Sydney's fault), etc. And then came the most chilling revelation: "She doesn't show any remorse," Miss Van Hook said. She added that she has written Sydney's parents, telling them all this, "but there's a limited amount that I can do, because I don't have standing. I only have them for three weeks."
I quizzed her extensively about the situation. She told me that it wasn't affecting Rachel's ability and desire to learn: "She's a very bright kid, and she's always ready to work," and that she seemed to recover very quickly from Sydney's abusive behavior. I explained that we had encouraged Rachel to be friends with Sydney in kindergarten even though Sydney was mean -- we thought we could influence her with kindness -- and how Sydney follows Rachel everywhere and wants to do everything she does. I also said that Sydney's mom put her in Summer Laureates because she knew Rachel was going to be there and she wanted Sydney to have a friend. "She doesn't fit the profile of the typical kid here," Miss Van Hook said, and Drew told me last night that he was sure that Sydney's teacher wouldn't recommend her for the program -- but apparently did.
I also told Miss Van Hook that the McKinley guidance counselor had brushed off her behavior saying, "Sidney's one of my characters," and saying that she would go to Sidney's class and talk to everyone about the importance of being nice and how to keep friendships, in the hope that Sidney would somehow internalize the message. I thought that was an inadequate response at the time, and Miss Van Hook agreed. She recommended that she and Rachel not be in the same class together, and Drew called McKinley Friday afternoon to get the principal's assurance that they would in fact be separated. Although, as Miss Van Hook noted, they may end up together even more during recess if they don't see each other during the day.
The whole conversation made me extremely upset. I think Sydney's behavior is reprehensible and I don't see her parents doing anything to curb it, based on the interaction I see between her and her mother -- but I don't know what goes on in that household so I can't judge. All I can see is that, as I told Miss Van Hook, she lashes out at Rachel because Rachel is smart, she's pretty, she has lots of friends and two parents who love her, like each other and actually sit down for dinner during the week and do fun things together. So maybe it's jealousy. In any case, if she does anything to physically or mentally hurt Rachel in a real and lasting way, she will be hearing from Drew AND from me -- and it won't be pretty.
Her face dropped and she said: "Sydney." And then I got an earful.
It seems that she was mean to Rachel for the entire three weeks -- saying hurtful, mean things, and Rachel would say hurtful, mean things back -- and then the next minute they'd be best friends again. "This is the kind of thing you don't see until middle school," Miss Van Hook said. She told me just how much a terror Sydney had been -- stealing other kids' stuff, pinning the kids physically against each other, scribbling all over other kids' projects, dumping glue in the middle of a group project, then crying and acting as if someone else did it (but the other kids made sure that Miss Van Hook knew that it was Sydney's fault), etc. And then came the most chilling revelation: "She doesn't show any remorse," Miss Van Hook said. She added that she has written Sydney's parents, telling them all this, "but there's a limited amount that I can do, because I don't have standing. I only have them for three weeks."
I quizzed her extensively about the situation. She told me that it wasn't affecting Rachel's ability and desire to learn: "She's a very bright kid, and she's always ready to work," and that she seemed to recover very quickly from Sydney's abusive behavior. I explained that we had encouraged Rachel to be friends with Sydney in kindergarten even though Sydney was mean -- we thought we could influence her with kindness -- and how Sydney follows Rachel everywhere and wants to do everything she does. I also said that Sydney's mom put her in Summer Laureates because she knew Rachel was going to be there and she wanted Sydney to have a friend. "She doesn't fit the profile of the typical kid here," Miss Van Hook said, and Drew told me last night that he was sure that Sydney's teacher wouldn't recommend her for the program -- but apparently did.
I also told Miss Van Hook that the McKinley guidance counselor had brushed off her behavior saying, "Sidney's one of my characters," and saying that she would go to Sidney's class and talk to everyone about the importance of being nice and how to keep friendships, in the hope that Sidney would somehow internalize the message. I thought that was an inadequate response at the time, and Miss Van Hook agreed. She recommended that she and Rachel not be in the same class together, and Drew called McKinley Friday afternoon to get the principal's assurance that they would in fact be separated. Although, as Miss Van Hook noted, they may end up together even more during recess if they don't see each other during the day.
The whole conversation made me extremely upset. I think Sydney's behavior is reprehensible and I don't see her parents doing anything to curb it, based on the interaction I see between her and her mother -- but I don't know what goes on in that household so I can't judge. All I can see is that, as I told Miss Van Hook, she lashes out at Rachel because Rachel is smart, she's pretty, she has lots of friends and two parents who love her, like each other and actually sit down for dinner during the week and do fun things together. So maybe it's jealousy. In any case, if she does anything to physically or mentally hurt Rachel in a real and lasting way, she will be hearing from Drew AND from me -- and it won't be pretty.
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