Good to know my kid is putting my advice to use. Today, she went up to Oliver, who it turns out is in 4th grade, and said to him, "Don't go kicking my friend!" (He has generally been a nuisance to Rachel's friends, including Simone, whom he "accidentally" -- quotes are Rachel's -- tripped yesterday).
He replied to Rachel, "You're loathsome."
And she was ready with a response: "Really? That's all you can do? You can't even insult me in Spanish? WOW."
He was goggle-eyed. So were Simone and Sydney. THAT'S MY GIRL!!! WAY TO GO, RACHEL!
***
That started a conversation about bullying tonight during Shabbat. Drew and I told Rachel that we both had been bullied as kids, and when she pressed us for details, we couldn't remember the exact insults. But I remembered names of a few, which I told her: the kids who called me bossy, and smarty-pants.
"That's one of the challenges of being smart," Rachel said. Then she said about a hypothetical kid who teased her: "I"ll be rich and famous, and he'll be living in a house of sheets. And I'll say, 'Let me drop a little penny in your cup.' For being mean to me. And then I'll spit in his cup."
And then she came up with a great comeback to more teasing: "When I grow up, I'm gonna be rich and famous, and you'll be NOTHING. So you better start being nice to me now."
Friday, November 20, 2015
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Insults
Poor Rachel is continually harassed by little boys in her class who call her "stick" and "stupid" and so forth. I told her that a great rejoinder would be, "Is that the BEST you can do?"
Tonight she started sobbing when I insisted she go to bed, and she said that some 4th-grade boys had called her "stupid."
"Remember what I said to tell them?" I replied.
"Yeah, but I forgot," she said.
"You can't do any better than THAT?" I play-acted. "Okay, how about in Spanish? Can you insult me in Spanish? What? You can't? You've been learning Spanish since kindergarten and you can't find a good insult? Okay, how about French? You can't insult me stylishly in French? Look at all the kids in this school who can speak multiple languages and you can't even figure out how to insult me in another language??? That is SO disappointing."
And then, I told her, she'd walk away. And if she did that enough, the other kids would stop calling her names because they'd realize they couldn't find a way to make her mad or cry, and that's boring, so they'd just stop.
Her tears dried instantly, and she did say that she used the "You can't do any better than THAT?" rejoinder to a kid named Oliver in her grade. She said he just stared at her and didn't say anything, and then I said, "See, you did great!" and gave her a high-five.
She'll have those stupid older boys whipped into shape in no time.
Tonight she started sobbing when I insisted she go to bed, and she said that some 4th-grade boys had called her "stupid."
"Remember what I said to tell them?" I replied.
"Yeah, but I forgot," she said.
"You can't do any better than THAT?" I play-acted. "Okay, how about in Spanish? Can you insult me in Spanish? What? You can't? You've been learning Spanish since kindergarten and you can't find a good insult? Okay, how about French? You can't insult me stylishly in French? Look at all the kids in this school who can speak multiple languages and you can't even figure out how to insult me in another language??? That is SO disappointing."
And then, I told her, she'd walk away. And if she did that enough, the other kids would stop calling her names because they'd realize they couldn't find a way to make her mad or cry, and that's boring, so they'd just stop.
Her tears dried instantly, and she did say that she used the "You can't do any better than THAT?" rejoinder to a kid named Oliver in her grade. She said he just stared at her and didn't say anything, and then I said, "See, you did great!" and gave her a high-five.
She'll have those stupid older boys whipped into shape in no time.
Rachel's reading tastes
I didn't have to work tonight, so Drew headed to the gym during Rachel's swim lesson, and I put her to bed. As I was joining her to read, she said, "Look, Mommy!"
She was reading a kid's version of "The Canterbury Tales."
"Where did you get that?" I said, astonished.
"Cherrydale," she said, naming a library branch. "I thought it looked interesting."
It's told in comic-book style, and she really got into it -- she refused to stop reading until she had completed "The Miller's Tale." I told her Grandma can read The Canterbury Tales in Old English, and that hopefully she can persuade her to do that next week.
She was reading a kid's version of "The Canterbury Tales."
"Where did you get that?" I said, astonished.
"Cherrydale," she said, naming a library branch. "I thought it looked interesting."
It's told in comic-book style, and she really got into it -- she refused to stop reading until she had completed "The Miller's Tale." I told her Grandma can read The Canterbury Tales in Old English, and that hopefully she can persuade her to do that next week.
A bad morning
I didn't get much sleep Tuesday night because I was preparing for two interviews Wednesday, plus a talk my editor that would determine whether I'd get through the holidays stress-free or as a crazy woman trying to finish a magazine cover story.
Bottom line: I was really cranky with Drew and Rachel, who stomped off after I told her to comb her hair, or something, and I was very cold to her on the way to school. I told her that that behavior was not acceptable, that I was exhausted but that I'd mad the effort to get up earlier than I'd wanted and walk her to school. "Got it?" I snarled.
She replied that she was still angry at me for the previous night, when I didn't let her read this blog because she really need to get to bed. I reminded her that I'd told her when we got home from dinner with Nicole and Sydney that she needed to go right to bed, no reading, no fooling around, and then she said, "but you said that was just about homework," meaning that after dinner, she would do homework and go right to bed, but she ended up doing her homework in the car. "Don't parse my words, Rachel!" I yelled. Then she started crying and said, "I like to read the blog because it's INTERESTING!" and that finally moved my implacably cranky heart, and I reached down and hugged her, and promised that I'd let her read some entries from when she was 3 years old, after I pick her up early on Friday (and we make flourless peanut-butter cookies for her sleepover with Sydney. At which time, Drew and I plan to go out for dessert and see an actual MOVIE).
By the time we reached school, she was fine, but I still felt awful. The interviews went fine, and my editor, to my great relief, said I need to do more reporting on the story and there's no deadline yet -- "You don't have a gun to your head," were her actual words, which made me very happy. I ended up calling home during a break at work and apologizing again to Rachel, who said -- as she always does -- "It's okay, Mommy."
I hope she remembers more of the cuddly fun times than the times Mom was cranky and stressed out.
Bottom line: I was really cranky with Drew and Rachel, who stomped off after I told her to comb her hair, or something, and I was very cold to her on the way to school. I told her that that behavior was not acceptable, that I was exhausted but that I'd mad the effort to get up earlier than I'd wanted and walk her to school. "Got it?" I snarled.
She replied that she was still angry at me for the previous night, when I didn't let her read this blog because she really need to get to bed. I reminded her that I'd told her when we got home from dinner with Nicole and Sydney that she needed to go right to bed, no reading, no fooling around, and then she said, "but you said that was just about homework," meaning that after dinner, she would do homework and go right to bed, but she ended up doing her homework in the car. "Don't parse my words, Rachel!" I yelled. Then she started crying and said, "I like to read the blog because it's INTERESTING!" and that finally moved my implacably cranky heart, and I reached down and hugged her, and promised that I'd let her read some entries from when she was 3 years old, after I pick her up early on Friday (and we make flourless peanut-butter cookies for her sleepover with Sydney. At which time, Drew and I plan to go out for dessert and see an actual MOVIE).
By the time we reached school, she was fine, but I still felt awful. The interviews went fine, and my editor, to my great relief, said I need to do more reporting on the story and there's no deadline yet -- "You don't have a gun to your head," were her actual words, which made me very happy. I ended up calling home during a break at work and apologizing again to Rachel, who said -- as she always does -- "It's okay, Mommy."
I hope she remembers more of the cuddly fun times than the times Mom was cranky and stressed out.
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
Dinner with Sydney
I had planned to make a new recipe for beef stroganoff tonight, but I forgot that I had to make it in the slow cooker -- something I discovered at 5:40, so I called an audible and decided to take Rachel out to dinner (Drew was at a Girl Scout cookie meeting, since he has graciously agreed to be Cookie Dude again this year and manage the troop's cookie sales).
Sydney and her mom were going to dinner at a restaurant in Tyson's Square mall, and they invited us along. I followed behind Nicole because I wasn't sure how to get there. I made Rachel do her homework in the car, and even though I didn't have a pencil, she filled it out in pen and got all the answers correct, even in her "challenge packet" homework, which is slightly more advanced than what she's learning in class.
We went to a nice place, and all was going well until dessert, when Sydney pitched a fit when her aunt (Nicole's sister) wouldn't let her have some of her dessert because Sydney wouldn't share hers (she gobbled hers down before the rest of us had gotten ours, and her aunt chided her for being impolite). Then she started roughhousing with Rachel and pulled on Rachel's hands (they were both underneath the table at this point) so hard that I told her sharply to STOP IT. Then, she decided to walk out of the restaurant and I called out to her "Sydney! SYDNEY!" while the others were behind me. "Where do you think you're going???" I demanded when she got to the edge of the restaurant.
At that point Nicole was behind me, and I tried to explain that I had yelled at her kid because I was worried she'd get lost in the mall. She brushed it off, saying that Sydney does that a lot but then usually turns around, expecting people to be following her.
We said our goodbyes -- Nicole had promised Sydney a visit to the candy shop in the mall, which Rachel didn't even ask to do (and I was glad, because I would have said no), and then she got teary eyed and began crying a bit. She motioned for us to sit down on some cushioned benches nearby, and I took her on my lap and said, "What's the matter, sweetie?"
"This evening didn't go the way I wanted it to!" she said, crying. "I wish it had been more calm!"
And then, before I could respond, she said, "And, truth be told, I think Nicole should be firmer with Sydney."
Astonished, I said, "You mean, like Daddy and me?"
"YES," she said.
Never say that 7-year-olds don't know exactly what's going on around them. Or that they don't crave boundaries, which is why Rachel is the way she is and Sydney is the way she is.
Sydney and her mom were going to dinner at a restaurant in Tyson's Square mall, and they invited us along. I followed behind Nicole because I wasn't sure how to get there. I made Rachel do her homework in the car, and even though I didn't have a pencil, she filled it out in pen and got all the answers correct, even in her "challenge packet" homework, which is slightly more advanced than what she's learning in class.
We went to a nice place, and all was going well until dessert, when Sydney pitched a fit when her aunt (Nicole's sister) wouldn't let her have some of her dessert because Sydney wouldn't share hers (she gobbled hers down before the rest of us had gotten ours, and her aunt chided her for being impolite). Then she started roughhousing with Rachel and pulled on Rachel's hands (they were both underneath the table at this point) so hard that I told her sharply to STOP IT. Then, she decided to walk out of the restaurant and I called out to her "Sydney! SYDNEY!" while the others were behind me. "Where do you think you're going???" I demanded when she got to the edge of the restaurant.
At that point Nicole was behind me, and I tried to explain that I had yelled at her kid because I was worried she'd get lost in the mall. She brushed it off, saying that Sydney does that a lot but then usually turns around, expecting people to be following her.
We said our goodbyes -- Nicole had promised Sydney a visit to the candy shop in the mall, which Rachel didn't even ask to do (and I was glad, because I would have said no), and then she got teary eyed and began crying a bit. She motioned for us to sit down on some cushioned benches nearby, and I took her on my lap and said, "What's the matter, sweetie?"
"This evening didn't go the way I wanted it to!" she said, crying. "I wish it had been more calm!"
And then, before I could respond, she said, "And, truth be told, I think Nicole should be firmer with Sydney."
Astonished, I said, "You mean, like Daddy and me?"
"YES," she said.
Never say that 7-year-olds don't know exactly what's going on around them. Or that they don't crave boundaries, which is why Rachel is the way she is and Sydney is the way she is.
I guess she likes us?
"I love my family," Rachel called from the bottom of the stairs on Sunday morning. "Even though most the time, they're cray-cray."
"Well, we love YOU," Drew said, "even though you're cray-cray ALL the time."
No reply from Rachel to that one.
"Well, we love YOU," Drew said, "even though you're cray-cray ALL the time."
No reply from Rachel to that one.
Great literature
Last Thursday, Drew and were talking about something and he said, "After YOU, my dear Alphonse." That led me to our collection of Shirley Jackson stories, where that refrain figures prominently in one of the tales.
Then I noticed a short story called "Charles," about a boy who tells his parents stories about the terrible kid named Charles in his kindergarten, and his parents completely believe him until the last line in the story, when the boy's teacher tells Charles's mother, "We don't have any Charles in the kindergarten," and it turns out that it was the little boy himself who was doing all the terrible things lovingly outlined in the story.
I had an idea: Why not have Rachel read the story and see if she gets the point? So, on Friday, I plunked it down in front of her. She laughed at the stories of Charles's antics, and then, all of a sudden (I was in the study), I heard her exclaim, "WHAT?!?!"
I rushed back to the dining room. "Do you understand what was going on?" I said.
"The kid was doing all the bad stuff but blaming it on Charles?" she said doubtfully.
"YES!" I exclaimed, hugging her. "Did you like the story?" she said she did.
That is a story meant for adults, and my 7-year-old got it. I'm very proud.
Then I noticed a short story called "Charles," about a boy who tells his parents stories about the terrible kid named Charles in his kindergarten, and his parents completely believe him until the last line in the story, when the boy's teacher tells Charles's mother, "We don't have any Charles in the kindergarten," and it turns out that it was the little boy himself who was doing all the terrible things lovingly outlined in the story.
I had an idea: Why not have Rachel read the story and see if she gets the point? So, on Friday, I plunked it down in front of her. She laughed at the stories of Charles's antics, and then, all of a sudden (I was in the study), I heard her exclaim, "WHAT?!?!"
I rushed back to the dining room. "Do you understand what was going on?" I said.
"The kid was doing all the bad stuff but blaming it on Charles?" she said doubtfully.
"YES!" I exclaimed, hugging her. "Did you like the story?" she said she did.
That is a story meant for adults, and my 7-year-old got it. I'm very proud.
Hebrew school snapshot
Last Sunday Drew and I had to take separate cars to Hebrew school. He ended up taking Rachel home, but before that, she wanted to show him the "meditation garden" behind her classroom. His report:
"So, Rachel was showing me the meditation garden next to the temple, and how a window in her classroom opens onto it. It was open, and she leaned in to say hello to her teacher and the teacher’s teenage assistant, and they invited us in to see some of Rachel’s classwork. (One of them, a drawing of things to be thankful to God for, Rachel for some reason included a family of groundhogs.)
Anyway, after admiring the classwork on the wall, the teacher said Rachel is a pleasure to have in class because she pays attention, participates a lot and has good contributions. Then she said, “When Rachel raises her hand to ask what time it is and I say ‘One o’clock,’ she says ‘Oh good, because I don’t want Hebrew school to be over so soon.’”
"So, Rachel was showing me the meditation garden next to the temple, and how a window in her classroom opens onto it. It was open, and she leaned in to say hello to her teacher and the teacher’s teenage assistant, and they invited us in to see some of Rachel’s classwork. (One of them, a drawing of things to be thankful to God for, Rachel for some reason included a family of groundhogs.)
Anyway, after admiring the classwork on the wall, the teacher said Rachel is a pleasure to have in class because she pays attention, participates a lot and has good contributions. Then she said, “When Rachel raises her hand to ask what time it is and I say ‘One o’clock,’ she says ‘Oh good, because I don’t want Hebrew school to be over so soon.’”
Saturday, November 14, 2015
Regan McAllister
Regan is the 19-year-old daughter of Jeannette, one of my longest-time friends, and tonight she came over for dinner. She's a freshman at George Washington University -- took a year off to study in Turkey -- and we had a delightful time.
Despite a pretty epic dessert fail, I managed to re-make it and dinner got on the table just after 8. Dessert was chocolate pots de creme (Regan is gluten intolerant, so no flour) and flourless peanut butter cookies, which Rachel loved -- who would have thought my kid would like peanut butter cookies? She suggested I make them as treats for her sleepover next Friday with Sydney -- and Regan seemed to like the meal. We talked about all sorts of things: college, her life living abroad and in Florida, what she wants to do when she finishes up (live abroad and hopefully work for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020). One of the great advantages of having kids later than everyone in your peer group -- okay, WAAAY later than everyone in your peer group -- is you get to see how their kids turned out and hopefully glean some great parenting insight.
Regan looks exactly like Jeannette and Drew had no trouble finding her at the Metro station. It was really weird to see that her long hair, her gestures, her way of speaking were exactly like her mom's. She appeared charmed by Rachel, even letting Rachel braid her hair at one point. Hopefully she'll be able to come back and baby-sit sometime.
Today was a yucky errand-running day (poor Rachel), but we got a bunch of them done so that next Saturday we are going to do something fun together without worrying about chores or bill paying or house cleaning or entertaining. Reason enough to give thanks, I should think.
Despite a pretty epic dessert fail, I managed to re-make it and dinner got on the table just after 8. Dessert was chocolate pots de creme (Regan is gluten intolerant, so no flour) and flourless peanut butter cookies, which Rachel loved -- who would have thought my kid would like peanut butter cookies? She suggested I make them as treats for her sleepover next Friday with Sydney -- and Regan seemed to like the meal. We talked about all sorts of things: college, her life living abroad and in Florida, what she wants to do when she finishes up (live abroad and hopefully work for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020). One of the great advantages of having kids later than everyone in your peer group -- okay, WAAAY later than everyone in your peer group -- is you get to see how their kids turned out and hopefully glean some great parenting insight.
Regan looks exactly like Jeannette and Drew had no trouble finding her at the Metro station. It was really weird to see that her long hair, her gestures, her way of speaking were exactly like her mom's. She appeared charmed by Rachel, even letting Rachel braid her hair at one point. Hopefully she'll be able to come back and baby-sit sometime.
Today was a yucky errand-running day (poor Rachel), but we got a bunch of them done so that next Saturday we are going to do something fun together without worrying about chores or bill paying or house cleaning or entertaining. Reason enough to give thanks, I should think.
Friday, November 13, 2015
Mystery reader!
Rachel doesn't know this, but I have a schedule for the whole year of when I'll be mystery reader, but I can't tell her that because it has to be a surprise. The teacher asked for more clues from me (she gives out the clues the week before), and so I had to be inventive. Some of the clues were:
--I'm a first-generation American; my parents were born overseas
--I have a good memory
--I could roller-skate and ice skate when I was a kid
This morning, Rachel crawled into bed (I awoke suddenly after a deep sleep and a weird dream) and asked, "Do you have a good memory, Mommy?"
"I don't have a good memory for anything these days, sweetie," I answered sleepily, and she seemed very disappointed.
But she was so happy to see me when I came into class today! She ran over and hugged me. I read two Native American stories in advance of Native American read-in day next Tuesday, which I would sign up to do except I have GOT to get moving on my next magazine story, and afterward she asked me if I could take her home straight after school, and I said yes. We ended up doing some more shopping for the holidays (including a beautiful dress and sweater for Thanksgiving and snow boots, which she really needed) at Target. I had dinner on the table by the time Drew got home at 7:30, so Rachel got to bed early for a change. Which is great, because we've got a lot of errands to do tomorrow and we're making dinner for Regan McAllister, the daughter of my friend Jeannette who is a student at GWU, and I need to do some straightening out a bit.
***
At dinner tonight, Rachel said -- upon being continually corrected my me on her table manners -- "You know what? When I grow up, I'm gonna do all the things you don't let me do now."
"Like what?" we asked.
"Eat sugary cereal," she said. "Not mind my manners, and have an iPod so I can bop to my music."
Really, sometimes it's all I can to do hold in my laughter.
--I'm a first-generation American; my parents were born overseas
--I have a good memory
--I could roller-skate and ice skate when I was a kid
This morning, Rachel crawled into bed (I awoke suddenly after a deep sleep and a weird dream) and asked, "Do you have a good memory, Mommy?"
"I don't have a good memory for anything these days, sweetie," I answered sleepily, and she seemed very disappointed.
But she was so happy to see me when I came into class today! She ran over and hugged me. I read two Native American stories in advance of Native American read-in day next Tuesday, which I would sign up to do except I have GOT to get moving on my next magazine story, and afterward she asked me if I could take her home straight after school, and I said yes. We ended up doing some more shopping for the holidays (including a beautiful dress and sweater for Thanksgiving and snow boots, which she really needed) at Target. I had dinner on the table by the time Drew got home at 7:30, so Rachel got to bed early for a change. Which is great, because we've got a lot of errands to do tomorrow and we're making dinner for Regan McAllister, the daughter of my friend Jeannette who is a student at GWU, and I need to do some straightening out a bit.
***
At dinner tonight, Rachel said -- upon being continually corrected my me on her table manners -- "You know what? When I grow up, I'm gonna do all the things you don't let me do now."
"Like what?" we asked.
"Eat sugary cereal," she said. "Not mind my manners, and have an iPod so I can bop to my music."
Really, sometimes it's all I can to do hold in my laughter.
Advice about teasing, and a Rachel thought
Rachel has complained about a boy named Sam (who I'd really like to take aside and tell to stop annoying my daughter because one day he's going to want to date her, and she'll remember what a jerk he was, and not give him the time of day) who calls her names, like that she's a "stick."
"What does that even MEAN?" I asked, and she seemed gratified.
But then I told her what she should say if he or other kids called her names -- Liam said she was dumb, or something like that, the other day -- and I told her her response should be, "Is that the best you can do? Really? I am SO disappointed in you," and walked away.
She loved that idea. So much so that she told Drew about it, and said she'd teach her friends. I can't wait until she tells me the reaction when she tries it on some mean kid who's bothering her.
***
While we were having lunch at the sculpture garden, I asked Rachel, out of the blue, "What is the best and worst thing about being an only child?"
"The best thing is that I don't have to share my things!" she exclaimed.
And the worst thing, she said, "is that I'm often lonely. You and Dad work a lot."
"What does that even MEAN?" I asked, and she seemed gratified.
But then I told her what she should say if he or other kids called her names -- Liam said she was dumb, or something like that, the other day -- and I told her her response should be, "Is that the best you can do? Really? I am SO disappointed in you," and walked away.
She loved that idea. So much so that she told Drew about it, and said she'd teach her friends. I can't wait until she tells me the reaction when she tries it on some mean kid who's bothering her.
***
While we were having lunch at the sculpture garden, I asked Rachel, out of the blue, "What is the best and worst thing about being an only child?"
"The best thing is that I don't have to share my things!" she exclaimed.
And the worst thing, she said, "is that I'm often lonely. You and Dad work a lot."
A perfect Rachel and Mommy day
Wednesday was Veterans Day, and Drew had to work (as did I, but not until 3:30), and Drew said he didn't know of any camps being held, so I told Rachel she had her choice of what we could do together. She said, "I want to go to where you and Anne went the other day."
"You mean, the sculpture garden?" I asked.
"Yes," she replied.
And that is exactly what we did.
She ended up having a sleepover at Ivy's on Tuesday night (we have GOT to coordinate this better; I had to work, thus giving up a prime opportunity for Drew and I to have a date night -- dinner, a play or a movie, sigh) and then I picked her up at 9:30 a.m. I showered while she read, and then packed some snacks and books (she was going to go to Drew's office in the afternoon) and then we started our walk to the Metro. She said she wanted to take me to a new park she'd discovered while walking with Ivy and her grandma the other day, and I said sure.
Another time I would have urged her keep on task, that we had to get to the Metro so we'd have enough time at the sculpture garden, but I am trying an experiment to not be so stressed out with her and just let our moments together take us where they will. So I followed her -- and, oh, it was quite a walk, about a half-mile to a mile, but it really was a lovely little park. (Mom and Dad, it reminded me of Jones Park in a way, the way the light filtered through the fall leaves, and the warm weather.) Then we had to hike back to East Falls Church, and we both agreed that we were looking forward to sitting on the train for a while (I was lugging all my work bags and my back was starting to hurt.)
We got to Federal Triangle and it was quite a hike to the sculpture garden near the Pavilion Cafe, a lovely little lunch place near a skating rink that I really wanted to take Rachel to. But when we arrived, there were practically no people, even though it was a holiday!! We had a great lunch and sat for a while, just admiring the sun outside, and then walked around to look at the sculpture. She was enchanted with a Roy Lichtenstein House, a set of granite chairs that are the only sculptures you're allowed to sit on, and a giant typewriter eraser, and a spider. We had a lot of fun talking about the sculptures while I read the artists' names aloud.
At one point she turned to me suddenly and said, "You'll never be 25 again." Weird.
THEN we decided to go to the Hirshorn, where I'd gone with Anne and David, but we only had a little bit of time left so we sort of cruised through part of it (although I did get to take her by a musical exhibit of a woman, on tape, singing alternate versions of two early American songs about people who refused -- or were refused -- marriage proposals, drowning). Not sure she completely understood it, though.
And as we were leaving, she saw a carousel and really wanted to go on it, and I said sure, only one ride -- even though I was worried about the time -- and as I watched her go around and around and touch the pony's golden mane, and saw the delight on her face, I thought, the hell with it, so I'm late, does it really matter? And then we walked very fast to the station, while she said over and over again, "Mommy, I love you. This is the best day of my life."
As it happens, I met up with Drew at The Post, we did a quick handoff (to the delight of some of my colleagues, one of whom saw Rachel through her arms around me and exclaim, "I love you!") and I was in my seat by 3:30.
Absolutely perfect day. I wouldn't have changed a thing.
"You mean, the sculpture garden?" I asked.
"Yes," she replied.
And that is exactly what we did.
She ended up having a sleepover at Ivy's on Tuesday night (we have GOT to coordinate this better; I had to work, thus giving up a prime opportunity for Drew and I to have a date night -- dinner, a play or a movie, sigh) and then I picked her up at 9:30 a.m. I showered while she read, and then packed some snacks and books (she was going to go to Drew's office in the afternoon) and then we started our walk to the Metro. She said she wanted to take me to a new park she'd discovered while walking with Ivy and her grandma the other day, and I said sure.
Another time I would have urged her keep on task, that we had to get to the Metro so we'd have enough time at the sculpture garden, but I am trying an experiment to not be so stressed out with her and just let our moments together take us where they will. So I followed her -- and, oh, it was quite a walk, about a half-mile to a mile, but it really was a lovely little park. (Mom and Dad, it reminded me of Jones Park in a way, the way the light filtered through the fall leaves, and the warm weather.) Then we had to hike back to East Falls Church, and we both agreed that we were looking forward to sitting on the train for a while (I was lugging all my work bags and my back was starting to hurt.)
We got to Federal Triangle and it was quite a hike to the sculpture garden near the Pavilion Cafe, a lovely little lunch place near a skating rink that I really wanted to take Rachel to. But when we arrived, there were practically no people, even though it was a holiday!! We had a great lunch and sat for a while, just admiring the sun outside, and then walked around to look at the sculpture. She was enchanted with a Roy Lichtenstein House, a set of granite chairs that are the only sculptures you're allowed to sit on, and a giant typewriter eraser, and a spider. We had a lot of fun talking about the sculptures while I read the artists' names aloud.
At one point she turned to me suddenly and said, "You'll never be 25 again." Weird.
THEN we decided to go to the Hirshorn, where I'd gone with Anne and David, but we only had a little bit of time left so we sort of cruised through part of it (although I did get to take her by a musical exhibit of a woman, on tape, singing alternate versions of two early American songs about people who refused -- or were refused -- marriage proposals, drowning). Not sure she completely understood it, though.
And as we were leaving, she saw a carousel and really wanted to go on it, and I said sure, only one ride -- even though I was worried about the time -- and as I watched her go around and around and touch the pony's golden mane, and saw the delight on her face, I thought, the hell with it, so I'm late, does it really matter? And then we walked very fast to the station, while she said over and over again, "Mommy, I love you. This is the best day of my life."
As it happens, I met up with Drew at The Post, we did a quick handoff (to the delight of some of my colleagues, one of whom saw Rachel through her arms around me and exclaim, "I love you!") and I was in my seat by 3:30.
Absolutely perfect day. I wouldn't have changed a thing.
The questions this kid asks...
The other day, Rachel asked me out of the blue while I was getting dinner ready: "Mom, have you saved for retirement?"
"Rachel!" I exclaimed. "What a question! Yes, I have."
"Good," she said. "Then I don't have to save for you."
"Rachel!" I exclaimed again.
"I was just checking," she answered defensively. Guess I won't count on her taking care of me in my old age...sigh.
"Rachel!" I exclaimed. "What a question! Yes, I have."
"Good," she said. "Then I don't have to save for you."
"Rachel!" I exclaimed again.
"I was just checking," she answered defensively. Guess I won't count on her taking care of me in my old age...sigh.
Early Thanksgiving with Uncle Dan!
On Saturday, we got up early to make a turkey (I had made a pumpkin chocolate chip cocoa cake the day before), stuffing and brussels sprouts for an early Thanksgiving with Uncle Dan, which is fast becoming a family tradition. We piled it all into the car and got there around 1:30, warmed everything back up and then ate lunch. I was so happy that everyone -- including Dan! -- asked for seconds. Afterward I took a quick power nap on the couch and then we all sat around and talked until around 5. It was a great, relaxed visit and we all had a really good time.
When we got home no one really felt like eating much. Anne and David went to Trader Joe's to get food for the plane, and when they came back Anne decided to stay at home while David, Drew, Rachel and I went to Lebanese Taverna. We still weren't hungry but decided to order appetizers (and I had two drinks; between editing and shepherding a long story into The Post, it had been a tiring week). David and I sat next to each other and had a long talk about cars, Pismo Beach, planes, etc. It was a very relaxed dinner. Then we drove home, put Rachel to bed, and then I went to bed soon after because I was exhausted (and a little hung over).
The next morning we all had a leisurely breakfast. Drew took Rachel to Hebrew school, Anne and David started packing up and I got ready to go to work. We all said our goodbyes -- they left just before Drew and Rachel got back -- and then Drew took Rachel to Ivy's for a playdate and drove me in to work. It was a lovely way to end a wonderful visit with Anne and David; Anne said that Rachel is now, along with her and David, a member of the "No Wuss Adventure Club" and Rachel said, "I want to go to Camp David and Anne!" which set everyone laughing. Soon enough, sweetie, we will send you there for a couple of days one summer -- while, as Drew points out, he and I will go to Camp Shakespeare (as in, the Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Ore.)
When we got home no one really felt like eating much. Anne and David went to Trader Joe's to get food for the plane, and when they came back Anne decided to stay at home while David, Drew, Rachel and I went to Lebanese Taverna. We still weren't hungry but decided to order appetizers (and I had two drinks; between editing and shepherding a long story into The Post, it had been a tiring week). David and I sat next to each other and had a long talk about cars, Pismo Beach, planes, etc. It was a very relaxed dinner. Then we drove home, put Rachel to bed, and then I went to bed soon after because I was exhausted (and a little hung over).
The next morning we all had a leisurely breakfast. Drew took Rachel to Hebrew school, Anne and David started packing up and I got ready to go to work. We all said our goodbyes -- they left just before Drew and Rachel got back -- and then Drew took Rachel to Ivy's for a playdate and drove me in to work. It was a lovely way to end a wonderful visit with Anne and David; Anne said that Rachel is now, along with her and David, a member of the "No Wuss Adventure Club" and Rachel said, "I want to go to Camp David and Anne!" which set everyone laughing. Soon enough, sweetie, we will send you there for a couple of days one summer -- while, as Drew points out, he and I will go to Camp Shakespeare (as in, the Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Ore.)
Bonfire!
On Friday night of last week, Anne and David decided to head to a concert in Takoma Park. I went to the morning fitness class that is killing me these days (Barre; it's like ballet on steroids) and picked up Rachel from a school a little early (much to my shock, I discovered that it was too hot to wear jeans, so I changed into shorts and a short-sleeved shirt) to head to a bonfire at Lacey Woods Park, near her friend Libby's house, that the Girl Scouts were organizing. I couldn't get a straight answer as to whether parents were welcome, so I went with the idea of dropping Rachel off -- but she begged me to stay and so I sort of cornered Jill and Kelly, the troop leaders, into letting me hang around.
The girls made a craft of pipe cleaner and wood, and then they all gathered around a big fire and, much to Rachel's dismay, were bossed around by the bigger Cadets and Juniors, who acted as buddies while the girls went to the fire and roasted marshmallows (the idea was for everyone to make s'mores). I told her that she couldn't get too mad -- just like she was earning her patch, the big girls needed to guide the little girls so THEY could get their patches -- but she was still annoyed. She also got mad at one of the parents of a girl from another troop who scolded her for drifting away toward a nearby pavilion. (I should explain that it was very dark, no one had thought to bring flashlights, including me, so it was quite a challenge trying to get around.)
At the end of the evening, Sydney asked if they could have a sleepover, and I said no, but that we were heading to Silver Diner for dinner and she and Nicole were welcome to join us (Nicole was a bit put out at finding parents there when she had been told not to attend, and Kelly tried to smooth things over). Kelly's daughter, Libby, ended up joining us, so it was Drew, me, Nicole and Syd, Libby and Rachel.
Things were going fine until Syd's order came (her mom said she could order waffles and eggs, which surprised Drew and me to begin with), and she pitched a FIT. She started whining and crying that the waffles didn't taste good, that there were eggs in them, that they were touching the scrambled eggs on the plate, etc. etc. and her mom tried to calm her down. Whereupon she started acting up, followed by Rachel, and then Drew told them not to run around, that it was a restaurant and not a play place, and then Syd started whining some more that she was bored, and there was nothing to do, and she started sassing Nicole, and all I wanted to do was lean over and smack her, but of course I couldn't. Anyway...the unpleasantness kept on until I urged Drew to ASK FOR THE CHECK, which he did, and we had been charged for two things that we had ordered but hadn't come, and so it took longer, etc. When we finally left, Rachel went home with me and said in the car, "You're the only one who understands me, Mommy," which warmed my heart.
We got home, put her to bed, and then Drew and I deconstructed the dinner and agreed that if Rachel had acted up, we would have said firmly, "That's it, we're out of here," left, and gone home, and if Rachel had continued fussing, we would have started removing privileges. That is because we have always set firm boundaries with Rachel from a very early age, and I think that kids really appreciate that because it helps them navigate the world.
The girls made a craft of pipe cleaner and wood, and then they all gathered around a big fire and, much to Rachel's dismay, were bossed around by the bigger Cadets and Juniors, who acted as buddies while the girls went to the fire and roasted marshmallows (the idea was for everyone to make s'mores). I told her that she couldn't get too mad -- just like she was earning her patch, the big girls needed to guide the little girls so THEY could get their patches -- but she was still annoyed. She also got mad at one of the parents of a girl from another troop who scolded her for drifting away toward a nearby pavilion. (I should explain that it was very dark, no one had thought to bring flashlights, including me, so it was quite a challenge trying to get around.)
At the end of the evening, Sydney asked if they could have a sleepover, and I said no, but that we were heading to Silver Diner for dinner and she and Nicole were welcome to join us (Nicole was a bit put out at finding parents there when she had been told not to attend, and Kelly tried to smooth things over). Kelly's daughter, Libby, ended up joining us, so it was Drew, me, Nicole and Syd, Libby and Rachel.
Things were going fine until Syd's order came (her mom said she could order waffles and eggs, which surprised Drew and me to begin with), and she pitched a FIT. She started whining and crying that the waffles didn't taste good, that there were eggs in them, that they were touching the scrambled eggs on the plate, etc. etc. and her mom tried to calm her down. Whereupon she started acting up, followed by Rachel, and then Drew told them not to run around, that it was a restaurant and not a play place, and then Syd started whining some more that she was bored, and there was nothing to do, and she started sassing Nicole, and all I wanted to do was lean over and smack her, but of course I couldn't. Anyway...the unpleasantness kept on until I urged Drew to ASK FOR THE CHECK, which he did, and we had been charged for two things that we had ordered but hadn't come, and so it took longer, etc. When we finally left, Rachel went home with me and said in the car, "You're the only one who understands me, Mommy," which warmed my heart.
We got home, put her to bed, and then Drew and I deconstructed the dinner and agreed that if Rachel had acted up, we would have said firmly, "That's it, we're out of here," left, and gone home, and if Rachel had continued fussing, we would have started removing privileges. That is because we have always set firm boundaries with Rachel from a very early age, and I think that kids really appreciate that because it helps them navigate the world.
Anne and David, Part II
Anne and David returned for a couple of days last Tuesday through Sunday. We had more great fun together (even though I had to work the whole time -- boo!) Some more highlights:
--On Wednesday, it was such a beautiful day that when Anne and I went into the District together, we couldn't bear to go inside in a museum, even though we had plans to explore the Smithsonian Castle and the nearby galleries. Instead, we sat outside on a bench near the lovely gardens on the castle grounds. Anne did some work; I munched on a peanut butter and chocolate bar from Trader Joe's that she kindly offered me and read the paper. At 3 p.m. I reluctantly left, but not before snapping a photo with my camera and labeling it: "72 degrees and sunny. I've died and gone to heaven." Because it was true. I loudly expressed regret that I had to go to work -- only to find, after I got in, that I was scheduled for a late shift and thus could have spent AN HOUR LONGER OUTSIDE. Epic fail on my part.
--On Thursday, Anne, David and I went into the District together and found ourselves at the same place, with similarly nice weather. After getting a wonderful lunch at the food carts near Federal Triangle, we decided to stay outside and wander through the sculpture garden at the Hirshhorn Museum. I hadn't been there, and it was so lovely to wander through on an unusually lovely fall day. What a treat! Anne and I took lots of photos until it was time for me, reluctantly again, to go to work -- although this time, I knew I didn't have to be in until 4:30. Altogether a great way to spend time with family.
--On Wednesday, it was such a beautiful day that when Anne and I went into the District together, we couldn't bear to go inside in a museum, even though we had plans to explore the Smithsonian Castle and the nearby galleries. Instead, we sat outside on a bench near the lovely gardens on the castle grounds. Anne did some work; I munched on a peanut butter and chocolate bar from Trader Joe's that she kindly offered me and read the paper. At 3 p.m. I reluctantly left, but not before snapping a photo with my camera and labeling it: "72 degrees and sunny. I've died and gone to heaven." Because it was true. I loudly expressed regret that I had to go to work -- only to find, after I got in, that I was scheduled for a late shift and thus could have spent AN HOUR LONGER OUTSIDE. Epic fail on my part.
--On Thursday, Anne, David and I went into the District together and found ourselves at the same place, with similarly nice weather. After getting a wonderful lunch at the food carts near Federal Triangle, we decided to stay outside and wander through the sculpture garden at the Hirshhorn Museum. I hadn't been there, and it was so lovely to wander through on an unusually lovely fall day. What a treat! Anne and I took lots of photos until it was time for me, reluctantly again, to go to work -- although this time, I knew I didn't have to be in until 4:30. Altogether a great way to spend time with family.
Doctor's appointment
Took Rachel in for a doctor's appointment on Monday, Nov. 2. The doc said she is "perfect" -- at 45.4 pounds, she's in the 18th weight percentile for her age group (6-10 years), and is 48 inches high, the 45th percentile in height for her age group. She has 20/20 vision.
When I told the doc about her reluctance to eat vegetables, she said I didn't need to "hide" them in milkshakes or smoothies (although I may try to do that next spring/summer), but she told Rachel that by the time of her next appointment, she needs to be eating at least two other kinds of veggies besides salad leaves (which I think is a perfectly reasonable request, but Rachel is not so sure).
The visit ended with a flu shot. Poor Rachel climbed in my lap and screamed and sobbed after the shot; I decided to get one, too, and thought it was going to be much worse than it actually was! Rachel quickly recovered, though, and by the time they gave her a token for her to get a little figurine in a machine they have there, she was fine. I took her in to school late (I had explained the reason to her teacher beforehand), and that was that.
When I told the doc about her reluctance to eat vegetables, she said I didn't need to "hide" them in milkshakes or smoothies (although I may try to do that next spring/summer), but she told Rachel that by the time of her next appointment, she needs to be eating at least two other kinds of veggies besides salad leaves (which I think is a perfectly reasonable request, but Rachel is not so sure).
The visit ended with a flu shot. Poor Rachel climbed in my lap and screamed and sobbed after the shot; I decided to get one, too, and thought it was going to be much worse than it actually was! Rachel quickly recovered, though, and by the time they gave her a token for her to get a little figurine in a machine they have there, she was fine. I took her in to school late (I had explained the reason to her teacher beforehand), and that was that.
Anne and David, continued
On the Sunday after Halloween, the weather was still great, so we all decided to go to Great Falls -- only this time, from the Maryland side. And what a great decision THAT was! It's a totally different experience. Much closer to home, and I think the path and the view are prettier. Plus, THEY HAVE FREE BIKE RENTALS!!! Okay, the bikes were uncomfortable, and we couldn't take them to the viewpoint, but still. What a cool concept.
Rachel and I biked a bit, and then accompanied Anne to the viewpoint -- the one we see when we look across "from the Virginia side." I pointed out a kayaker to Rachel, who got a thrill watching him? Her? navigate the rough water. Anne took bunches of pictures, and I would have loved to stay longer except that I had to get to work (and Anne and David were headed to Uncle Dan's.) On the way back to return the bikes, Rachel whispered to me, "Mommy? I didn't want to rent the bike, but I didn't want to let you down." I told her that I really didn't want to rent the bike, either, once I found out how awkwardly it fit me, but that I appreciated that she was willing to go along with what the rest of the group wanted.
I said goodbye to Anne and David after we returned the bikes, then hopped in the car and went to work. Drew and Rachel went grocery shopping and did their usual Sunday stuff.
Rachel and I biked a bit, and then accompanied Anne to the viewpoint -- the one we see when we look across "from the Virginia side." I pointed out a kayaker to Rachel, who got a thrill watching him? Her? navigate the rough water. Anne took bunches of pictures, and I would have loved to stay longer except that I had to get to work (and Anne and David were headed to Uncle Dan's.) On the way back to return the bikes, Rachel whispered to me, "Mommy? I didn't want to rent the bike, but I didn't want to let you down." I told her that I really didn't want to rent the bike, either, once I found out how awkwardly it fit me, but that I appreciated that she was willing to go along with what the rest of the group wanted.
I said goodbye to Anne and David after we returned the bikes, then hopped in the car and went to work. Drew and Rachel went grocery shopping and did their usual Sunday stuff.
Anne and David!
So, we got extra lucky in October when ANNE AND DAVID, in addition to Ruth and Steve, came to visit. We had a fabulous time with everyone! A few highlights:
--Friday, Oct. 30, was their first full day here. Drew and I had cleaned the house and planned a Shabbat dinner before they came, so on Friday we all hung out until Anne accompanied me to Rachel's Halloween parade at school toward the end of the day. She helped me help the kids get into their costumes before the parade, and then she raced out front to catch pictures of Rachel marching behind the Swanson Middle School band, which again accompanied the kids as they walked through the neighborhood. I, of course, had forgotten my cellphone at home, so I raced back, grabbed it, and met Anne just in time to take a picture of Rachel, who was beyond adorable in her Betsy Ross costume of a Colonial-era dress we had gotten her in Williamsburg, a white mobcap, an apron that Ivy had given her, and an American flag ("Spirit of '76") that Drew had brought her from a flag shop near our insurance agent. I snapped a wonderfully iconic picture of her; she looked SO CUTE!!! Afterward I helped with the class party, to which I had brought candy corn -- the other parents were running games, and I could tell that Rachel just liked the fact that I was there. Then we walked home together and I started making dinner.
That night, we had roast beef, Yorkshire pudding and chocolate silk pie -- all of which everyone enjoyed -- and it was great catching up about our lives and talking.
--On Saturday, HALLOWEEN, Drew took Rachel to our neighborhood park for a Halloween parade and games while I showered, ate a quick breakfast and then headed over, hoping to find food, which of course was gone by the time I arrived. But it was a fabulous day weather-wise, and so nice to see all the neighbors pitch in with games and fun. We ran into Ivy and her grandmother going on a walk, and they invited Rachel along. So she ended up spending most of the day with them until she arrived back home at 6 because Sydney and her mom had extracted a promise from us that we'd let her and Rachel go trick or treating together. (Meanwhile, Anne and David and I discovered a great walking path from our neighborhood right into Falls Church near a bookstore and a restaurant that was separate from the bike trail; I can't wait to take Drew and Rachel on it.)
Syd and her parents arrived a little after 6, and I almost didn't recognize them -- Nicole was a zombie mom, Chris (Syd's dad), was a New Year's baby (completely with a costume diaper and big butt -- I am not kidding, we all laughed) and then Anne and David graciously agreed to go trick or treating with them while Drew raced out and got pizza for everyone. I stayed home, listening to "Peer Gynt," (is there a better soundtrack for Halloween? NO) while we got a bunch of trick or treaters and I let them have a lot of candy. Our neighbors across the street put up glow-in-the-dark cobwebbing, and the folks down the street had an open fire in a fire pit, and as I stood outside, I thought how wonderful it was that we ended up in this neighborhood. I call it "Mayberry-on-the-Potomac," and it's true, it's just like that.
When everyone got back, we spontaneously decided to feed everyone pizza, and Drew just loved having everyone sitting down and eating pizza, talking and laughing together. They all recounted how Rachel insisted on carrying Syd's trick-or-treat plastic pumpkin candy holder, even when it got really heavy. Each of the girls gave me some candy as a present, and I hugged both of them. There wasn't enough room for all of us to sit down together, so Drew and I stood and talked with everyone until Nicole, Chris and Syd left. It was a perfect Halloween, the best one yet!
--Friday, Oct. 30, was their first full day here. Drew and I had cleaned the house and planned a Shabbat dinner before they came, so on Friday we all hung out until Anne accompanied me to Rachel's Halloween parade at school toward the end of the day. She helped me help the kids get into their costumes before the parade, and then she raced out front to catch pictures of Rachel marching behind the Swanson Middle School band, which again accompanied the kids as they walked through the neighborhood. I, of course, had forgotten my cellphone at home, so I raced back, grabbed it, and met Anne just in time to take a picture of Rachel, who was beyond adorable in her Betsy Ross costume of a Colonial-era dress we had gotten her in Williamsburg, a white mobcap, an apron that Ivy had given her, and an American flag ("Spirit of '76") that Drew had brought her from a flag shop near our insurance agent. I snapped a wonderfully iconic picture of her; she looked SO CUTE!!! Afterward I helped with the class party, to which I had brought candy corn -- the other parents were running games, and I could tell that Rachel just liked the fact that I was there. Then we walked home together and I started making dinner.
That night, we had roast beef, Yorkshire pudding and chocolate silk pie -- all of which everyone enjoyed -- and it was great catching up about our lives and talking.
--On Saturday, HALLOWEEN, Drew took Rachel to our neighborhood park for a Halloween parade and games while I showered, ate a quick breakfast and then headed over, hoping to find food, which of course was gone by the time I arrived. But it was a fabulous day weather-wise, and so nice to see all the neighbors pitch in with games and fun. We ran into Ivy and her grandmother going on a walk, and they invited Rachel along. So she ended up spending most of the day with them until she arrived back home at 6 because Sydney and her mom had extracted a promise from us that we'd let her and Rachel go trick or treating together. (Meanwhile, Anne and David and I discovered a great walking path from our neighborhood right into Falls Church near a bookstore and a restaurant that was separate from the bike trail; I can't wait to take Drew and Rachel on it.)
Syd and her parents arrived a little after 6, and I almost didn't recognize them -- Nicole was a zombie mom, Chris (Syd's dad), was a New Year's baby (completely with a costume diaper and big butt -- I am not kidding, we all laughed) and then Anne and David graciously agreed to go trick or treating with them while Drew raced out and got pizza for everyone. I stayed home, listening to "Peer Gynt," (is there a better soundtrack for Halloween? NO) while we got a bunch of trick or treaters and I let them have a lot of candy. Our neighbors across the street put up glow-in-the-dark cobwebbing, and the folks down the street had an open fire in a fire pit, and as I stood outside, I thought how wonderful it was that we ended up in this neighborhood. I call it "Mayberry-on-the-Potomac," and it's true, it's just like that.
When everyone got back, we spontaneously decided to feed everyone pizza, and Drew just loved having everyone sitting down and eating pizza, talking and laughing together. They all recounted how Rachel insisted on carrying Syd's trick-or-treat plastic pumpkin candy holder, even when it got really heavy. Each of the girls gave me some candy as a present, and I hugged both of them. There wasn't enough room for all of us to sit down together, so Drew and I stood and talked with everyone until Nicole, Chris and Syd left. It was a perfect Halloween, the best one yet!
Pumpkin patch
The weekend after Ruth and Steve were here, we all headed to a pumpkin patch with Ivy, Liam, Jenny and Billy, our Foreign Service neighbors from up the street. It was an interesting day -- sunny and deceptively warm in the sun, but it got colder later. As it turned out, we had been there with Charon, Wes and Cameron the first year we arrived in D.C., which was a bit disappointing because I had hoped to discover a new pumpkin patch -- but we made the most of it.
The kids were immediately drawn to the long slide and the barn with piles of hay; it got all over Rachel's hair and new sweater and pants I'd just bought in a gigantic shopping expedition to finish out her fall wardrobe. We all split up to get the various food we wanted; I got butternut squash soup that a BEE flew into; smoked beef; and a caramel apple (which Rachel, regretfully, did not like) while the kids got hot dogs. After a while, Billy, Jenny and Liam headed back to let their new dog, Flannel, outside, and we agreed to keep Ivy until early evening. While I waited on an extraordinarily long line for us all to get our faces painted (Rachel insisted on me getting mine painted, and I told her I'd match her peacock design), Drew took the girls on a pumpkin carriage ride and to a few other things. We got our faces painted, and then the girls separated from Drew and me as we all walked through a big maze. The only thing we didn't get to do was to take a hayride through the fields for an actual pumpkin, which we ended up getting at the pumpkin patch's store on the way out.
It's a lot of fun to be able to take outings with other families, and that weekend looked like it was going to be the last vaguely sunny and warm one, so we made the most out of it.
The kids were immediately drawn to the long slide and the barn with piles of hay; it got all over Rachel's hair and new sweater and pants I'd just bought in a gigantic shopping expedition to finish out her fall wardrobe. We all split up to get the various food we wanted; I got butternut squash soup that a BEE flew into; smoked beef; and a caramel apple (which Rachel, regretfully, did not like) while the kids got hot dogs. After a while, Billy, Jenny and Liam headed back to let their new dog, Flannel, outside, and we agreed to keep Ivy until early evening. While I waited on an extraordinarily long line for us all to get our faces painted (Rachel insisted on me getting mine painted, and I told her I'd match her peacock design), Drew took the girls on a pumpkin carriage ride and to a few other things. We got our faces painted, and then the girls separated from Drew and me as we all walked through a big maze. The only thing we didn't get to do was to take a hayride through the fields for an actual pumpkin, which we ended up getting at the pumpkin patch's store on the way out.
It's a lot of fun to be able to take outings with other families, and that weekend looked like it was going to be the last vaguely sunny and warm one, so we made the most out of it.
Catching up
October has flown by, and November is upon us...and I have been very neglectful of this blog. So sorry about that, family and friends. Here is my attempt to catch up:
In mid-October we had the great good fortune of having Ruth and Steve come to visit Dan -- and we got to meet them, and Will and Chloe, for brunch on Sunday. What a treat! Rachel was so glad to see everyone, even if she did heartily embarrass Chloe by asking, "Is Will going to propose to you?" (I had been talking with Steve and was only vaguely aware of the conversation.) All of a sudden, I heard Ruth say very gently and calmly to Rachel, "Usually, people don't ask other people if someone is going to propose to them," and then I turned to face Chloe and the poor woman was blushing scarlet. "Rachel!" I exclaimed, and I felt so bad for Chloe. She seemed to take it with good humor, though, and so I took Rachel to the brunch buffet to find something to eat. Before I could stop her, she had gotten a dessert pudding, and I had to explain that she couldn't eat it (although she did manage to scarf down a small brownie instead). Unfortunately there wasn't much for her to eat that she wanted, but she did manage to get some breakfast in her before we had to leave for Hebrew school.
That night, I got an extraordinary call from Rachel's Hebrew-school teacher, Mrs. Siegel. (Drew and I had forgotten that it was meet-the-teacher-day.) She is a volunteer teacher with a heavy New York accent and said she just wanted to tell me that Rachel had done something amazing in class that day. They had been discussing the concept of God, and asking God for help. All the kids took turns saying what they wanted to ask God for help about, and Rachel said, "I want to ask for help saying, 'I'm sorry.'"
One of the other kids then said, apparently, "That's the hardest thing to say."
Mrs. Siegel said she was amazed at Rachel's ability to ask for help with the concept of saying she was sorry and added that it was incredibly mature of her to do so. We chatted a bit more -- she said that Rachel was very sweet, great to have in class, etc. I told a her a little about my background and how important it was for me that Rachel gets a good Jewish education and develops a love of the religion.
I love it when teachers call about the good stuff.
In mid-October we had the great good fortune of having Ruth and Steve come to visit Dan -- and we got to meet them, and Will and Chloe, for brunch on Sunday. What a treat! Rachel was so glad to see everyone, even if she did heartily embarrass Chloe by asking, "Is Will going to propose to you?" (I had been talking with Steve and was only vaguely aware of the conversation.) All of a sudden, I heard Ruth say very gently and calmly to Rachel, "Usually, people don't ask other people if someone is going to propose to them," and then I turned to face Chloe and the poor woman was blushing scarlet. "Rachel!" I exclaimed, and I felt so bad for Chloe. She seemed to take it with good humor, though, and so I took Rachel to the brunch buffet to find something to eat. Before I could stop her, she had gotten a dessert pudding, and I had to explain that she couldn't eat it (although she did manage to scarf down a small brownie instead). Unfortunately there wasn't much for her to eat that she wanted, but she did manage to get some breakfast in her before we had to leave for Hebrew school.
That night, I got an extraordinary call from Rachel's Hebrew-school teacher, Mrs. Siegel. (Drew and I had forgotten that it was meet-the-teacher-day.) She is a volunteer teacher with a heavy New York accent and said she just wanted to tell me that Rachel had done something amazing in class that day. They had been discussing the concept of God, and asking God for help. All the kids took turns saying what they wanted to ask God for help about, and Rachel said, "I want to ask for help saying, 'I'm sorry.'"
One of the other kids then said, apparently, "That's the hardest thing to say."
Mrs. Siegel said she was amazed at Rachel's ability to ask for help with the concept of saying she was sorry and added that it was incredibly mature of her to do so. We chatted a bit more -- she said that Rachel was very sweet, great to have in class, etc. I told a her a little about my background and how important it was for me that Rachel gets a good Jewish education and develops a love of the religion.
I love it when teachers call about the good stuff.
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