Finding our Rhythm
The kids respond to having a yard for the first time in weeks
It’s been just over three weeks since we left our house in a flurry of cleaning supplies, backpacks, and well wishes. We made our best guesses about what we would need, how we would carry it, and what our lives would be like.
As people have asked how we are doing, I have mostly replied, “we are finding our rhythm.”
When we get to a new place, mostly booked on VRBO, the kids sprint in to call “dibs” on whatever sleeping arrangements feel best to them based on an ever-changing series of alliances, deals made, and sleep preferences. The adults similarly look at a combination of ceiling height, bathroom distances, and steps required.
I like to immediately pop out my cube of clothes for the next few days, hang things up, arrange toiletries, and set up plugs. It makes me feel like we are “home.” And for a while we are.
We have now been in small urban apartments, bigger country houses, hotel rooms, suburban condo-complexes for times ranging from 2-8 days. In some places, everyone has had a bed. In some places, at least one kid is on the couch. Everyone is developing their preferences.
The daily routine we are developing is a slow wake-up, with coffee and general quiet time. School has become an anchor point for the kids, usually occupying 3ish hours a day. and they often want to knock out an assignment or two first thing (well, Paul and Sophia do - Ava can be persuaded). Fresh bread or croissants have become morning staples, and Ava often makes eggs for those interested. The twins are experimenting with European variations on their homefront favorite: Special K with yogurt (Dark chocolate toppings being the current favorite. The adults, journal, blog, read, plot the day, or play backgammon or cards.
In the late morning, we set off on an adventure. It’s usually a single limited goal: the Arc De Triomphe, the Airborne Museum in Normandy, the aquarium, a particular church (although Paul’s tolerance for church variations is lowering by the day).
In transit, we try to do the historical grounding for what we are going to see. In an effort to sort the massive “layering” of history here, we’re focusing on Roman times, French Revolution times, and World War II.
We navigate, usual on public transit, by a combination of google maps, local signage, and guesswork. My goal is that while we are doing whatever it is, we are all fully present to it. This has led to approximately 1,000 conversations with the kids, ranging from deep and meaningful to completely absurd (I have learned so much about anime and YouTubers). On reflection, it’s also led to 1,000 conversations with the adults that I (or the kids) otherwise would not have had in a more harried or distracted space.
We usually get a light lunch (and/or crepes and gelato) out somewhere (sometimes less light, depending on the space).
My favorite moments so far have involved the random “off-plan” sites, like the organ practice we encountered, or the French bluegrass concert, or the stained-glass window of thanks for the support of the “pork-butchers’ assocation.”
Then we had back home, where more schoolwork, cards, work, and planning awaits.
We are mostly cooking our own dinners, which sparks shopping adventures involving lots of sign language and google translate, and some experimentation. The kids had never been into a butcher shop before. I had never been into a farm-fresh vending machine rack with produce and eggs. I definitely did not expect oysters, lemon, and sauce to be available for 10euro.
The evening often involves cards (Rummy, Euchre, so far…hearts to be introduced shortly) or Backgammon. And then sleep.
