How Families Live Around the World
If you are curious about other (regular) people’s lives, then do yourself a favor and peruse this website. Dollar Street is a website that visited families across the globe, and, in a very realistic way, took pictures of their households (shoes, armchairs, hands, play grounds) as well as calculating their monthly income per each adult in the household. It’s fascinating! I use it in teaching but also with my own kids.
Ludovico Einaudi
After listening to Ludovico Einaudi, an Italian composer, L is determined to take piano lessons. I am there for it and signed her up for Saturdays. I empathized the commitment and effort required so it will be good for her self-discipline. Her teacher is a Cuban-born tenor that teaches piano. Starting with 30 minutes per lesson.
Summer Camp
Three weeks of summer camp for L is booked! It is a full day, partially state-subsidized, science and nature oriented program for kids 6 to 8, and takes place at the reservation where we usually hike. I am so happy we got in. The registration opened at 9AM yesterday, and I was there and ready with my payment! The cost is $330 per week, so we coughed up almost $1,000 for three weeks of summer camp for one kid. Ahhh, gotta love how expensive New Jersey can be. And this is a program that is partially covered by our taxes so it’s cheaper than private camps. Those run anywhere from $600 to $1000 per week.
R is too young to join this program since he is only 4 so he will be at home with me for those three weeks. Will probably be going to the beach, the library, and doing playdates.
Paris Thoughts
Goal: travel to and live in Paris for 8 days. Approach: slow.
The gist: 8 days, two small kids (6 and 4), lots to do. Do I have an itinerary for each day? Not yet. What I do have is a Paris folder on Google maps (use as you wish, it’s open) and will probably explore by arrondissement. The folder includes streets, attractions, green spaces, cafés, bars for a quick apéro for mom, grocery stores, museums, and even playgrounds. All of that information is from my own research on the Internets. We will probably not get to half of that but oh well – to live in a European city for 8 days is already a privilege.
Some preliminary thoughts from my research:
1. Going up Tour Eiffel with my age kids is generally not worth it; better views of Paris are from the Pompidou Center.
2. French restaurant etiquette may be a bit above us (think R in the evenings ;). Will probably stick with markets, cafés and crêperies. Plus – we have a kitchen at Airbnb. But – you just never know.
3. The Louvre is open late on Friday nights and supposedly it is less packed at that time. So, that is when we will go. I will also decide which section in that museum we will see- it’s impossible for us to see everything. The Louvre has an app designed specifically for kids!
4. Disneyland Paris – not going. The kids don’t even know it’s a possibility. Will stick with carrousel on river Seine bank (left or right- not sure). Nothing against Disney but we live in the US- the land of Disney- and I want to get to know French culture. We get enough Disney at home.
5. A palace of Versailles – a strong yes. Looks like a good day trip from Paris, via 1 hour train ride from Gare de Lyon.
6. River cruise- really want to do it. Not sure if will pony up $$ for a private one or a shared one. Probably shared but have to research a bit more.
That is all I have for now!
Note to self- write a post about Paris feeling as well as feelings and anxieties of traveling with a 4 and a 6 year old. Also packing 🙂
Mom of Children 