Speaking of family, a week or so ago Rachel came into our bedroom with a long face -- Drew had left for work -- and said that her iPad license would be taken away from her because she forgot to plug in her iPad before she left for school that morning (the iPads, new for all 2nd-graders this year, stay at school but the kids do a lot of their classwork on them).
"I'm sure Ms. Burke wouldn't do that," I said, but she seemed unconvinced.
So, I told her that I'd throw on some clothes, we would race through breakfast and we'd get her to school in time to plug in her iPad. As we were walking down the stairs she said, "It's okay, Mom, you don't have to rush." I told her it was fine, and she kept protesting, until I turned around, looked her in the eye and said: "Rachel. We're a family, and families help each other out when we're in trouble. This is one of those times."
I will never forget the look of relief that crossed her face. She put her arms around me and said, "Thanks, Mom. You're the best."
She calculated that if we got to school about 20 minutes early, she could plug her iPad in just enough to juice up the battery to last her through the rest of the day. We made it in early, and she was fine.
I wouldn't have done that or said that if she was normally a careless kid. But Rachel is so responsible that I wanted her to know that I acknowledged that by going the extra mile to help her out when she needed it. So that way, she won't feel terrible if she screws up when she's older and feels as if she doesn't have backup from Mom and Dad. And anytime I can reinforce that family members help each other in times of trouble, illness, etc., I'll take that opportunity.
Saturday, April 30, 2016
A lovely surprise
Rachel brought home some schoolwork she did in class, and one was a picture of a four-leaf clover, colored in green, with the words: "I feel lucky because":
And this is what she wrote:
"I have a family that loves me. I feel lucky of that because they are always there when I need them. I really, Really love my family."
And we really, really love you, Rachel. Now we know why she feels so secure...
And this is what she wrote:
"I have a family that loves me. I feel lucky of that because they are always there when I need them. I really, Really love my family."
And we really, really love you, Rachel. Now we know why she feels so secure...
Friday, April 29, 2016
Nighttime ritual
I've decided that I should start singing to Rachel before she goes to sleep whenever I'm home. On Thursday I had the night off, so after Drew's great dinner, I went upstairs with Rachel and we read for about 10 minutes in her bed. That is, she read her book and I read mine.
"Look, Mom!" she said. "I'm reading Shakespeare's 'King Lear!'"
Um, great, honey, I said. "That's Daddy's favorite Shakespeare play."
Then I sang "Dona Dona," which I think bored her, and then "Solidarity Forever." When she asked me what the song was about, I explained the concept of unions to her and she said, "So, it's basically an ad for unions."
Yes, I replied.
Then we talked a bit about marriage and children. She said she doesn't want children because "they cost too much and they're so much work." (and I made a mental note to do what I did tonight, which is to tell her that having her is the greatest gift of my life and that Daddy and would never have had her if we couldn't afford to, and that she shouldn't worry about money.)
Besides, she said, she wants to stay single because, "I want to be an old lady and play Bingo. That way, I'll stay young."
I could barely restrain myself from laughing. Where does she get these ideas???
"Look, Mom!" she said. "I'm reading Shakespeare's 'King Lear!'"
Um, great, honey, I said. "That's Daddy's favorite Shakespeare play."
Then I sang "Dona Dona," which I think bored her, and then "Solidarity Forever." When she asked me what the song was about, I explained the concept of unions to her and she said, "So, it's basically an ad for unions."
Yes, I replied.
Then we talked a bit about marriage and children. She said she doesn't want children because "they cost too much and they're so much work." (and I made a mental note to do what I did tonight, which is to tell her that having her is the greatest gift of my life and that Daddy and would never have had her if we couldn't afford to, and that she shouldn't worry about money.)
Besides, she said, she wants to stay single because, "I want to be an old lady and play Bingo. That way, I'll stay young."
I could barely restrain myself from laughing. Where does she get these ideas???
A lesson at the gym, Part 2
So, I was trying to explain the mom, Bella and her sister to Rachel, and how I had unfairly criticized the mom in her head. I'm not sure she really understood what I was trying to say, which boiled down to, "Please try not to be as judgmental as Mommy is."
Instead, she said something interesting: "I'm glad you're not like other moms."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"If I asked you to put on my socks, you wouldn't call me a brat," she said. "You'd say, 'Well, just this once.' Or you'd say, 'No! Do it yourself!'"
Which confirms, yet again, that kids, deep down, like limits and boundaries. And that Rachel is exquisitely sensitive to how other parents treat their children. When they're not firm with them, she knows it. And is not shy about telling me about it.
Instead, she said something interesting: "I'm glad you're not like other moms."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"If I asked you to put on my socks, you wouldn't call me a brat," she said. "You'd say, 'Well, just this once.' Or you'd say, 'No! Do it yourself!'"
Which confirms, yet again, that kids, deep down, like limits and boundaries. And that Rachel is exquisitely sensitive to how other parents treat their children. When they're not firm with them, she knows it. And is not shy about telling me about it.
A lesson at the gym
I didn't have to work Thursday night, and Drew offered to grill steaks and bake potato kugel while I took Rachel to gymnastics. I happily agreed.
While I was watching her, I became distracted by a little girl -- she couldn't have been more than 3 or 4 ("three and three-quarters," Rachel said later) who was watching a movie or a TV show on her mom's cellphone. I hate seeing that in kids so young, and all sorts of ugly things ran through my head: Why does this mom allow her kid to DO that? I never allowed Rachel to watch movies on my phone. Give her a book, or something!
Of course, I didn't say a word.
Then, in the locker room after the class, Rachel was changing when I heard the young girl who had had the cellphone. She was with her older sister, Bella, who I estimate is about 6 and is in Rachel's class. They were both whining for the cellphone -- "Please, mom! Please let me watch it! I'll be good, Mom!" -- and it sounded disturbingly like someone needing a drug fix. I urged Rachel to finish changing because I just wanted us to get the hell out of there. At one point the mom threatened that there would be no TV that night, that they couldn't watch the cellphone movie in the car, and she told one kid to shut up and called the other one a brat. She ordered Bella to put on her socks, and Bella said, whining, "No! YOU do it!"
The whole scene really upset me and I started criticizing the mom in my head (I would never do this out loud, of course): Well, maybe if you didn't let your kids watch TV or cellphones so much, maybe they wouldn't be so obnoxious. At the same time, I wanted to say to the kids, firmly, "STOP IT. Stop it right now."
We were on our way out when we saw them. I was so ashamed of my ugly thoughts that I told the mom, "I guess two is harder than one," and she said, as if she had really been thinking about it, something along the lines of how, yes, she thought maybe two would be easier. Then I asked Bella her name and then asked her if she liked gymnastics. No, she said. Her mom said that she liked her flamenco classes, and I said, "Really? Can you show me how the fan works?" and she pretended to fan herself. "Can you show me how you take your skirt in your hands and sweep it around?" And she did, and then she started showing me some of her moves, and she was smiling and engaged.
The mom looked at me and said, "Thank you. The whole vibe changed." And then she explained that her husband is out of town during the week because he works in health care in Philadelphia, and that the kids are hard to manage. And she's alone with them. I noticed that one of her eyes looked completely bloodshot. I asked Bella what her full name was, and then we talked about all the names she could call herself -- Isabella, Izzy, Bella. (Rachel, by this time, was making delicate coughing sounds as if to say, "Um, let's go, Mom! NOW.")
And then I thought that there's a good reason that mom probably gives her kids her cellphone or lets them watch TV -- she's exhausted, and probably at her wit's end. And that you really can't criticize someone if you don't know the full story. I should know that my now, but it seems that I constantly need reminding.
I hope I gave that mom some grace.
While I was watching her, I became distracted by a little girl -- she couldn't have been more than 3 or 4 ("three and three-quarters," Rachel said later) who was watching a movie or a TV show on her mom's cellphone. I hate seeing that in kids so young, and all sorts of ugly things ran through my head: Why does this mom allow her kid to DO that? I never allowed Rachel to watch movies on my phone. Give her a book, or something!
Of course, I didn't say a word.
Then, in the locker room after the class, Rachel was changing when I heard the young girl who had had the cellphone. She was with her older sister, Bella, who I estimate is about 6 and is in Rachel's class. They were both whining for the cellphone -- "Please, mom! Please let me watch it! I'll be good, Mom!" -- and it sounded disturbingly like someone needing a drug fix. I urged Rachel to finish changing because I just wanted us to get the hell out of there. At one point the mom threatened that there would be no TV that night, that they couldn't watch the cellphone movie in the car, and she told one kid to shut up and called the other one a brat. She ordered Bella to put on her socks, and Bella said, whining, "No! YOU do it!"
The whole scene really upset me and I started criticizing the mom in my head (I would never do this out loud, of course): Well, maybe if you didn't let your kids watch TV or cellphones so much, maybe they wouldn't be so obnoxious. At the same time, I wanted to say to the kids, firmly, "STOP IT. Stop it right now."
We were on our way out when we saw them. I was so ashamed of my ugly thoughts that I told the mom, "I guess two is harder than one," and she said, as if she had really been thinking about it, something along the lines of how, yes, she thought maybe two would be easier. Then I asked Bella her name and then asked her if she liked gymnastics. No, she said. Her mom said that she liked her flamenco classes, and I said, "Really? Can you show me how the fan works?" and she pretended to fan herself. "Can you show me how you take your skirt in your hands and sweep it around?" And she did, and then she started showing me some of her moves, and she was smiling and engaged.
The mom looked at me and said, "Thank you. The whole vibe changed." And then she explained that her husband is out of town during the week because he works in health care in Philadelphia, and that the kids are hard to manage. And she's alone with them. I noticed that one of her eyes looked completely bloodshot. I asked Bella what her full name was, and then we talked about all the names she could call herself -- Isabella, Izzy, Bella. (Rachel, by this time, was making delicate coughing sounds as if to say, "Um, let's go, Mom! NOW.")
And then I thought that there's a good reason that mom probably gives her kids her cellphone or lets them watch TV -- she's exhausted, and probably at her wit's end. And that you really can't criticize someone if you don't know the full story. I should know that my now, but it seems that I constantly need reminding.
I hope I gave that mom some grace.
Spring dinner
A few days before we left for Passover in New York, it was so nice here that one night, when I wasn't working, I decided that we were going to eat outside.
So, I picked Rachel up from school, brought her home and started dinner. I brushed lamb chops with some oil and rosemary and opened a container of grape tomatoes, put everything on a pan and put it in the oven. Then I quick-boiled asparagus and made a lemon-butter sauce (NOT hollandaise) to drizzle over it. I had grabbed some cornbread that we had gotten at work one night and heated it up.
Rachel really got into the mood of the night. Totally unprompted, she arranged some cookies on a dessert plate, cut up some pears we had and served them with honey! Drew and I couldn't say enough how proud we were.
We ate outside on our deck. It was a bit chilly, and Rachel wore my fleece, but we had a great time anyway, listening to Rachel talk about all the iPad-related stuff she's doing at school, and sharing opinions about work-related issues (mine, mostly). Really, it's like having a great roommate. Truly, it was a magical evening.
So, I picked Rachel up from school, brought her home and started dinner. I brushed lamb chops with some oil and rosemary and opened a container of grape tomatoes, put everything on a pan and put it in the oven. Then I quick-boiled asparagus and made a lemon-butter sauce (NOT hollandaise) to drizzle over it. I had grabbed some cornbread that we had gotten at work one night and heated it up.
Rachel really got into the mood of the night. Totally unprompted, she arranged some cookies on a dessert plate, cut up some pears we had and served them with honey! Drew and I couldn't say enough how proud we were.
We ate outside on our deck. It was a bit chilly, and Rachel wore my fleece, but we had a great time anyway, listening to Rachel talk about all the iPad-related stuff she's doing at school, and sharing opinions about work-related issues (mine, mostly). Really, it's like having a great roommate. Truly, it was a magical evening.
Rachel's plans for the future
Her latest vision of adulthood Rachel told me while we were at Udvar-Hazy:
"Simone and I are going to get an apartment in New York City. She's going to be a vet, and I'm going to be a movie critic for the New York Times. And we're going to have dance parties every night."
"You can move in next door to us, but the music may be too loud for you."
"Simone and I are going to get an apartment in New York City. She's going to be a vet, and I'm going to be a movie critic for the New York Times. And we're going to have dance parties every night."
"You can move in next door to us, but the music may be too loud for you."
Passover
So, barely had everyone left when we began to get ready for Passover. I spent the week before buying afikomen gifts, baking gluten-free chocolate cookies (which turned out badly, for some reason; not sure why), packing, etc.
We left at 10:30 a.m. on Friday morning and the first order of business was listening to Prince's "Purple Rain" album (he had died on Thursday and I was very upset), on the highway. I had forgotten what a fantastic album it is -- not a clunker song in the bunch -- and it was gratifying to hear Rachel singing "Purple Rain" very softly in the back and saying that she liked the album. We think we've just about decided to keep her in the family.:)
We listened to "1999," another not-as-good Prince album, and then by the time we pulled into NYC (around 5 or so), we did what we'd promised Rachel: put in Taylor Swift's "1989" album, which starts off with, "Welcome to New York." When I grumbled a bit at having to do that, she shot back, "We listening to YOUR music, Mom, now we get to listen to mine. It's time." And she was right.
We had a lovely Passover dinner, as usual, at Daniella's apartment. Beautiful Seder table, delicious matzoh-ball soup, chicken, etc. It lasted way late -- past 11 for the kids and past midnight for the grown-ups cleaning up, but so worth it! We managed to sleep in a bit the next day, which was nice.
The girls hung around the apartment and watched a movie while Drew and I took a walk around the neighborhood and bought pizza for lunch. Around 3:15, we headed to Mom and Dad's, and then Dad took Rachel swimming while Mom played the piano and I got to sing (geez, I've missed that).
When Drew, Dad and Rachel got back from the pool, Rachel said excitedly that she had jumped off Grandpa's shoulders! When I looked at him reproachfully and asked him why he'd let Rachel do that, he said, "Because I used to do the same thing with her mommy," and I was so moved.
We went to a delicious Spanish restaurant where I ordered a paella I am still salivating over, only to remember that during Passover I generally try to adhere to all the dietary rules, which I broke by eating shellfish. Sigh. So I resolved to extend my Passover kashrut diet for one more day -- Saturday afternoon -- when I am meeting a friend at a burger place and will end things at that time.
Our drive home was longish, but we managed to avoid traffic until we got to the Baltimore-Washington Parkway. But I still got in to work on time (just barely). What a great getaway, and thanks so much, everyone, for making it a wonderful trip.
We left at 10:30 a.m. on Friday morning and the first order of business was listening to Prince's "Purple Rain" album (he had died on Thursday and I was very upset), on the highway. I had forgotten what a fantastic album it is -- not a clunker song in the bunch -- and it was gratifying to hear Rachel singing "Purple Rain" very softly in the back and saying that she liked the album. We think we've just about decided to keep her in the family.:)
We listened to "1999," another not-as-good Prince album, and then by the time we pulled into NYC (around 5 or so), we did what we'd promised Rachel: put in Taylor Swift's "1989" album, which starts off with, "Welcome to New York." When I grumbled a bit at having to do that, she shot back, "We listening to YOUR music, Mom, now we get to listen to mine. It's time." And she was right.
We had a lovely Passover dinner, as usual, at Daniella's apartment. Beautiful Seder table, delicious matzoh-ball soup, chicken, etc. It lasted way late -- past 11 for the kids and past midnight for the grown-ups cleaning up, but so worth it! We managed to sleep in a bit the next day, which was nice.
The girls hung around the apartment and watched a movie while Drew and I took a walk around the neighborhood and bought pizza for lunch. Around 3:15, we headed to Mom and Dad's, and then Dad took Rachel swimming while Mom played the piano and I got to sing (geez, I've missed that).
When Drew, Dad and Rachel got back from the pool, Rachel said excitedly that she had jumped off Grandpa's shoulders! When I looked at him reproachfully and asked him why he'd let Rachel do that, he said, "Because I used to do the same thing with her mommy," and I was so moved.
We went to a delicious Spanish restaurant where I ordered a paella I am still salivating over, only to remember that during Passover I generally try to adhere to all the dietary rules, which I broke by eating shellfish. Sigh. So I resolved to extend my Passover kashrut diet for one more day -- Saturday afternoon -- when I am meeting a friend at a burger place and will end things at that time.
Our drive home was longish, but we managed to avoid traffic until we got to the Baltimore-Washington Parkway. But I still got in to work on time (just barely). What a great getaway, and thanks so much, everyone, for making it a wonderful trip.
Anne and David and Ron and Doreen and Ben and Jake
We had a double dose of family recently -- Anne and David came with Ron Weiner and their teenage kids, Ben and Jake, and we spent lots of time with them. A sampling:
On Saturday about two weeks ago, we finally got to meet Ron's wife and kids; we had met Ron last summer, in Seattle, and he was very charmed by Rachel. We met at the house of Ron's friend from Bronx Science, Steve Chabinsky, who is a cybersecurity expert and has a wife, Jamie, and two kids -- the girl is named Sage. They laid out a nice brunch, complete with a kid's table (they have a big house in Vienna; Jamie is a lawyer) and then the kids disappeared downstairs to amuse themselves with electronics while the adults talked. After a couple of hours we got up to stretch our legs and take a walk, and the cold weather led me to remark, "This feels like a walk after Thanksgiving dinner!"
We took our leave, and then Rachel had a birthday party and a sleepover. Anne and David met a friend of hers at Lebanese Taverna while Drew and I went to a great Greek restaurant for dinner. We all met up back at home, and Drew built a fire while I read the paper and relaxed.
On Sunday, Rachel skipped religious school so we could meet the gang (including Steve's family and Ron's; Ron was staying with Steve) at Udvar-Hazy, the Air & Space Museum extension. Lots of planes, looking surprisingly elegant, and Rachel and I went into a flight simulator and had the time of our lives (i.e., it scared the bejesus out of me but I loved shrieking my head off). We had lunch at McDonald's, the only restaurant option, and then I took Rachel home then headed to work.
The next week was kind of a blur. I met Ron, Doreen and the kids for lunch on Monday, and then Doreen, Ben and I took a walk around the Mall while Ron and Jake finished exploring the Spy Museum. David and Anne then joined us at the Mall, and then I went in to work.
On Tuesday, I went to the Newseum with Ron and the kids -- it was as terrific as I'd remembered it -- and then I took them to a crepe place near The Post where we ate quite late, 4 p.m. -- I hadn't had any breakfast or lunch that day, for some reason -- and then they headed the next day to Baltimore. Anne and I met on Wednesday for lunch at the Sculpture Garden's Pavilion Restaurant in perfect weather, and as is usually the case, we ended up talking for four hours after which I headed in to work. I think that was the night when everyone headed in to Rockville to visit Uncle Dan, who was the only one who could solve one of Rachel's brain-teasing puzzles. Everyone had a great time.
On Thursday, Anne and David left. Drew, Rachel and I took Ron and the kids to Lebanese Taverna for dinner and said goodbyes, since Drew was leaving early Friday for his Knight-Bagehot fellowship reunion in New York. On Friday, I took Ron and the boys to Great Falls National Park, where we hiked further in than I'd ever gone. It was so worth it! The weather was unbelievably perfect and the boys really appreciated being outside and NOT in a museum. When we got back, Ron essentially took over dinner, to my immense gratitude, and we had lamb chops, brussels sprouts with bacon and ice cream for dessert because I was too tired to think of making dessert.
I think I walked something like 12 miles that week and didn't have much time to eat, but it was so wonderful seeing family! Please come back, we loved spending time with you!
On Saturday about two weeks ago, we finally got to meet Ron's wife and kids; we had met Ron last summer, in Seattle, and he was very charmed by Rachel. We met at the house of Ron's friend from Bronx Science, Steve Chabinsky, who is a cybersecurity expert and has a wife, Jamie, and two kids -- the girl is named Sage. They laid out a nice brunch, complete with a kid's table (they have a big house in Vienna; Jamie is a lawyer) and then the kids disappeared downstairs to amuse themselves with electronics while the adults talked. After a couple of hours we got up to stretch our legs and take a walk, and the cold weather led me to remark, "This feels like a walk after Thanksgiving dinner!"
We took our leave, and then Rachel had a birthday party and a sleepover. Anne and David met a friend of hers at Lebanese Taverna while Drew and I went to a great Greek restaurant for dinner. We all met up back at home, and Drew built a fire while I read the paper and relaxed.
On Sunday, Rachel skipped religious school so we could meet the gang (including Steve's family and Ron's; Ron was staying with Steve) at Udvar-Hazy, the Air & Space Museum extension. Lots of planes, looking surprisingly elegant, and Rachel and I went into a flight simulator and had the time of our lives (i.e., it scared the bejesus out of me but I loved shrieking my head off). We had lunch at McDonald's, the only restaurant option, and then I took Rachel home then headed to work.
The next week was kind of a blur. I met Ron, Doreen and the kids for lunch on Monday, and then Doreen, Ben and I took a walk around the Mall while Ron and Jake finished exploring the Spy Museum. David and Anne then joined us at the Mall, and then I went in to work.
On Tuesday, I went to the Newseum with Ron and the kids -- it was as terrific as I'd remembered it -- and then I took them to a crepe place near The Post where we ate quite late, 4 p.m. -- I hadn't had any breakfast or lunch that day, for some reason -- and then they headed the next day to Baltimore. Anne and I met on Wednesday for lunch at the Sculpture Garden's Pavilion Restaurant in perfect weather, and as is usually the case, we ended up talking for four hours after which I headed in to work. I think that was the night when everyone headed in to Rockville to visit Uncle Dan, who was the only one who could solve one of Rachel's brain-teasing puzzles. Everyone had a great time.
On Thursday, Anne and David left. Drew, Rachel and I took Ron and the kids to Lebanese Taverna for dinner and said goodbyes, since Drew was leaving early Friday for his Knight-Bagehot fellowship reunion in New York. On Friday, I took Ron and the boys to Great Falls National Park, where we hiked further in than I'd ever gone. It was so worth it! The weather was unbelievably perfect and the boys really appreciated being outside and NOT in a museum. When we got back, Ron essentially took over dinner, to my immense gratitude, and we had lamb chops, brussels sprouts with bacon and ice cream for dessert because I was too tired to think of making dessert.
I think I walked something like 12 miles that week and didn't have much time to eat, but it was so wonderful seeing family! Please come back, we loved spending time with you!
Dinner party
A few weeks after our spring break trip, I invited some young people from The Post (and one from Bloomberg News) over for dinner. Fenit is 25; Victoria and Moriah are in their late 20s and Lenore is her early 30s. Everyone raved over the food and dessert and they all had second helpings. And afterward, they thanked us profusely for the great time, especially with Rachel.
They really enjoyed talked to Rachel; you could tell they were just charmed by her commentary. At one point, Moriah was talking about some guy she'd been involved with and then they broke up. Rachel said, very calmly and authoritatively, "It sounds like he was using you." At which everyone at the table howled with laughter.
She's a pistol, that one.
They really enjoyed talked to Rachel; you could tell they were just charmed by her commentary. At one point, Moriah was talking about some guy she'd been involved with and then they broke up. Rachel said, very calmly and authoritatively, "It sounds like he was using you." At which everyone at the table howled with laughter.
She's a pistol, that one.
Spring break!
Hard to believe that almost a month ago, we were in Williamsburg/Jamestown/Yorktown. We drove down on a Tuesday and stayed until Sunday morning. We thought we'd have enough time to see everything, but unfortunately we didn't. Some samples:
--We went to Jamestown the first day, after a crummy first night in a hotel that Rachel and I disliked. It wasn't Drew's fault; I had been so busy at work, learning a new system of workflow and writing stories on the side, that I hadn't had time to really research what we were going to do (plus, I had pitched a piece to The Post's Travel editor involving Rachel, but she never got back to me and we ended up making last-minute plans to go to Williamsburg). From now on, I'll ask if a hotel has an interior corridor vs. a door that opens right to the outside, like this one did -- and when you have boozy yahoos outside your door at 11 at night, that can be a problem. Anyway, Jamestown was unexpectedly terrific and very moving. We went to a museum and then to an archaeological area where they are still making discoveries about life back then; it was completely fascinating because the National Park Service guides are really, really into the history and know their stuff. There's a museum on site that has been open only a decade or so, and I could have spent much more time there; there was so much to learn about the incredibly harsh early days of the English, the weather, the -- seriously -- cannibalism! -- and other things.
--The second day we went to the Jamestown settlement, a re-creation of life there from the Native American perspective. We went into teepees, watched baskets being sewn, walked along the grounds, etc. By the end of our time there, I really had a good sense of what the colonialists were up against in the New World.
--The third day we went to Yorktown, where they still have the redoubts FROM THE REVOLUTIONARY AND CIVIL WARS, and it was a terrific experience. We watched a little film there and Rachel climbed on some Revolutionary War-era cannons. Then we drove into town, saw a lot of old houses that I would have loved to explore, and got to see lots of live re-creations of: Colonial-era cooking, a cannon being shot off, a lecture on medicine during the American Revolution and Civil War battles (you don't want to know), and a museum that is being renovated so we only hit the highlights (it will be reopening this October, to much fanfare). We had dinner at a place right on the water and ice cream at Ben & Jerry's nearby.
--Then we spent the fourth and fifth days at Colonial Williamsburg. We didn't do RevQuest -- the Revolutionary War spy game -- this year because there was so much more to see: live demonstrations of candle-making; a lecture about and demonstration of a printing press, etc. When we remarked to someone that it seemed so much more open this year, they said that was a conscious decision of the people who run the place; that they realized they needed to make it more accessible to serve the public, and a bunch of folks had retired and they'd gotten more money to set up more people in the act of doing things.
We had found slightly better -- just slightly -- better lodgings where a bunch of kids from a soccer tournament were staying. It was a little chaotic. But we also found some nice restaurants and generally had a great time.
Rachel was a great traveling companion throughout, especially one night when Drew and I had got into an argument and were still angry, and she made a calm little speech that I'm forgetting now, but Drew looked at me and said, "We should listen to the child," and we all had a group family hug and made up. We later found out that she had gotten the idea to do that from one of her books about how kids can deal with difficult situations, or something like that. Anyhow...we all had a blast. Best spring break trip ever.
--We went to Jamestown the first day, after a crummy first night in a hotel that Rachel and I disliked. It wasn't Drew's fault; I had been so busy at work, learning a new system of workflow and writing stories on the side, that I hadn't had time to really research what we were going to do (plus, I had pitched a piece to The Post's Travel editor involving Rachel, but she never got back to me and we ended up making last-minute plans to go to Williamsburg). From now on, I'll ask if a hotel has an interior corridor vs. a door that opens right to the outside, like this one did -- and when you have boozy yahoos outside your door at 11 at night, that can be a problem. Anyway, Jamestown was unexpectedly terrific and very moving. We went to a museum and then to an archaeological area where they are still making discoveries about life back then; it was completely fascinating because the National Park Service guides are really, really into the history and know their stuff. There's a museum on site that has been open only a decade or so, and I could have spent much more time there; there was so much to learn about the incredibly harsh early days of the English, the weather, the -- seriously -- cannibalism! -- and other things.
--The second day we went to the Jamestown settlement, a re-creation of life there from the Native American perspective. We went into teepees, watched baskets being sewn, walked along the grounds, etc. By the end of our time there, I really had a good sense of what the colonialists were up against in the New World.
--The third day we went to Yorktown, where they still have the redoubts FROM THE REVOLUTIONARY AND CIVIL WARS, and it was a terrific experience. We watched a little film there and Rachel climbed on some Revolutionary War-era cannons. Then we drove into town, saw a lot of old houses that I would have loved to explore, and got to see lots of live re-creations of: Colonial-era cooking, a cannon being shot off, a lecture on medicine during the American Revolution and Civil War battles (you don't want to know), and a museum that is being renovated so we only hit the highlights (it will be reopening this October, to much fanfare). We had dinner at a place right on the water and ice cream at Ben & Jerry's nearby.
--Then we spent the fourth and fifth days at Colonial Williamsburg. We didn't do RevQuest -- the Revolutionary War spy game -- this year because there was so much more to see: live demonstrations of candle-making; a lecture about and demonstration of a printing press, etc. When we remarked to someone that it seemed so much more open this year, they said that was a conscious decision of the people who run the place; that they realized they needed to make it more accessible to serve the public, and a bunch of folks had retired and they'd gotten more money to set up more people in the act of doing things.
We had found slightly better -- just slightly -- better lodgings where a bunch of kids from a soccer tournament were staying. It was a little chaotic. But we also found some nice restaurants and generally had a great time.
Rachel was a great traveling companion throughout, especially one night when Drew and I had got into an argument and were still angry, and she made a calm little speech that I'm forgetting now, but Drew looked at me and said, "We should listen to the child," and we all had a group family hug and made up. We later found out that she had gotten the idea to do that from one of her books about how kids can deal with difficult situations, or something like that. Anyhow...we all had a blast. Best spring break trip ever.
Has it really been two months?? Yikes. So sorry about that.
So much has happened, I guess I should just hit the highlights.
Well, in March, Rachel got head lice. We found out when I, as her class's "mystery reader" came in to find the reading chair covered in plastic. Ms. Burke explained that there were some students that had lice -- all girls, apparently -- and that she had banned hugs until the problem was resolved. At the end of the day I asked her if Rachel was one of the girls, and she said diplomatically, "I'm sure nothing is wrong, but you should check with the nurse," or something like that.
So, off to the nurse we went, and, sure enough -- Rachel had lice. There were specks of white all over her hair, and the nurse combed her fingers through it and removed a live, wriggling nit. You really haven't been a parent, I guess, until you've had that experience. I had the nurse check me, too, and thank God I didn't have anything. Probably because I only see Rachel at night, and I lean down to kiss her and don't touch her hair.
As soon as Rachel saw that, she burst into tears and yelled, "I FEEL LIKE A FREAK!!" I had to calm her down and say that we'd take care of it, it was totally normal and we just needed to find the medicine to get rid of it. The nurse gave me some suggestions while I, dazed, tried to absorb it, and then we went home. I called Drew, contacted my friend Molly on Facebook, and then we drove to CVS to pick up the shampoo, combs, etc.
The funny part: I was trying to be discreet and said in a low voice to the pharmacist, "Um, where can I find..." when Rachel piped up and said, in a not-so-soft voice, "I HAVE LICE." I could have sworn that some folks on a line a little ways down heard us. Anyway, the pharmacist took us to the shelf with the medicine, explained that her sons had had it, too, and pointed out the stuff she had used. We bought it, went home, and then after Shabbat dinner that night, Drew took on the job of applying the shampoo and, he later told me, combing out a lot of dead nits.
That week, he was in charge of applying the hair stuff and combing Rachel out because I had to work five straight days. My favorite anecdote from that time was when Drew told me Rachel said, "DIE, vermin! DIE!" during one of the comb-outs. Yep, that's my girl.
It was over after a week (which included us washing all of Rachel's clothes and bedding and running her stuffed animals through the dryer), and, now that we've had that experience -- I hope it will never happen again. At least Rachel gets a kick out of how she announced in public that she had lice. I told her immediately how funny she'd been, and she saw the humor in the situation.
Well, in March, Rachel got head lice. We found out when I, as her class's "mystery reader" came in to find the reading chair covered in plastic. Ms. Burke explained that there were some students that had lice -- all girls, apparently -- and that she had banned hugs until the problem was resolved. At the end of the day I asked her if Rachel was one of the girls, and she said diplomatically, "I'm sure nothing is wrong, but you should check with the nurse," or something like that.
So, off to the nurse we went, and, sure enough -- Rachel had lice. There were specks of white all over her hair, and the nurse combed her fingers through it and removed a live, wriggling nit. You really haven't been a parent, I guess, until you've had that experience. I had the nurse check me, too, and thank God I didn't have anything. Probably because I only see Rachel at night, and I lean down to kiss her and don't touch her hair.
As soon as Rachel saw that, she burst into tears and yelled, "I FEEL LIKE A FREAK!!" I had to calm her down and say that we'd take care of it, it was totally normal and we just needed to find the medicine to get rid of it. The nurse gave me some suggestions while I, dazed, tried to absorb it, and then we went home. I called Drew, contacted my friend Molly on Facebook, and then we drove to CVS to pick up the shampoo, combs, etc.
The funny part: I was trying to be discreet and said in a low voice to the pharmacist, "Um, where can I find..." when Rachel piped up and said, in a not-so-soft voice, "I HAVE LICE." I could have sworn that some folks on a line a little ways down heard us. Anyway, the pharmacist took us to the shelf with the medicine, explained that her sons had had it, too, and pointed out the stuff she had used. We bought it, went home, and then after Shabbat dinner that night, Drew took on the job of applying the shampoo and, he later told me, combing out a lot of dead nits.
That week, he was in charge of applying the hair stuff and combing Rachel out because I had to work five straight days. My favorite anecdote from that time was when Drew told me Rachel said, "DIE, vermin! DIE!" during one of the comb-outs. Yep, that's my girl.
It was over after a week (which included us washing all of Rachel's clothes and bedding and running her stuffed animals through the dryer), and, now that we've had that experience -- I hope it will never happen again. At least Rachel gets a kick out of how she announced in public that she had lice. I told her immediately how funny she'd been, and she saw the humor in the situation.
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