Little Kids, Big City: Tales from a Real House in New York City (With Lessons on Life and Love for Your Own Concrete Jungle) by Alex McCord, Simon van Kempen Read Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Alex McCord, Simon van Kempen
milk and juice into bottles, as it was the only way the liquid would be allowed on board. I drove myself crazy with two backpacks full of drinks and snacks, when in the end taking much less would have been fine. I’ve always silently laughed at people who overpack, but the first few trips away with both boys I completely fell into that trap. After a couple of toddler flights I realized that it’s better to just take what you need for the few hours you’re on the plane, and leave the rest. Either kids will be willing to play with plastic cups, read the exit safety sheet and watch movies, or they will get antsy and scream. Regardless, the flight will eventually be over.
In fact, out of the many early trips we took, we spent more time managing our caregiver than the kids. For the first three years of Johan’s life we had au pairs, and coordinating who had to take the kids to the bathroom, whose turn it was to sleep and how much time the au pair had to sightsee was the biggest job of all.
In St. Barths
Will They Remember?
In a word, no. At least not the earliest trips.
Alex: Johan, what countries have you been to?
Johan: Ummm, Dallas and the Hamptons.
(Both of which we’d been to in the two weeks prior to me asking him.)
Alex: Have you been to France?
Johan: What’s France, Mama?
Half an hour later, we thought we’d try François.
Simon: What’s the first trip you remember, F-Boy?
François: Africa.
Alex: Wow, you remember that trip?
François: I just know that I went.
Simon: How do you know?
François: Because you told me!
Our six-year-old does not actually remember being in Australia at the age of three months, nor does he remember being in Monte Carlo or Italy at the age of three years. He does, however, understand that he was there with us when we talk about the trips, and recognizes himself in photos of all the places we’ve been together. When he went back to Oz at the age of five, he knew that he’d been there before and was excited to see all the things “he missed” the first time, like petting the kangaroos as opposed to being held by Daddy in a photo next to one. He recognizes the big carousels one sees everywhere in France as being French, and will always ask if photos of him or Johan riding one were taken in France—he was only wrong once, and it was Monaco so close enough! A fun addition to the experience is when we go somewhere we’d been previously with François only, and return with Johan. François becomes the big brother travel guide, regardless of whether he remembers anything about the place. Now whenever we travel, Johan asks, “Have I been there before?” Both boys know that we like to travel and to take them with us, which makes them feel special. They are excited to see new places and have new experiences, and pick up on the fact that Simon and I are excited, too—we share in the fun. That is the best takeaway from gallivanting across the galaxy with minors. We have two relatively fearless kids who love seeing new things and are excited to share adventures with Mom and Dad.
ALEXʹS TOP 10 TRAVEL MEMORIES:
10. A late dinner in Cannes with one month old Johan asleep in his car seat under the table
9. The complete change in mood when two bored boys on a car trip in Australia suddenly saw a kangaroo in a paddock
8. A great photo of François riding a reindeer with fake snow on the beach in the south of France
7. Sitting in a gorgeous orchard in Morocco while nursing François
6. Walking with baby Johan in a sling in Italy marveling that after nearly years I still remembered enough Italian to brag about my baby to an interested stranger
5. Being silently offered multiple glasses of wine by a sympathetic flight attendant during a flight from hell back from overseas with two cranky boys a passed out from exhaustion husband and an au pair with the flu.
4. François gleefully peeling off layer upon layer of bunting once he came inside during a
In fact, out of the many early trips we took, we spent more time managing our caregiver than the kids. For the first three years of Johan’s life we had au pairs, and coordinating who had to take the kids to the bathroom, whose turn it was to sleep and how much time the au pair had to sightsee was the biggest job of all.
In St. Barths
Will They Remember?
In a word, no. At least not the earliest trips.
Alex: Johan, what countries have you been to?
Johan: Ummm, Dallas and the Hamptons.
(Both of which we’d been to in the two weeks prior to me asking him.)
Alex: Have you been to France?
Johan: What’s France, Mama?
Half an hour later, we thought we’d try François.
Simon: What’s the first trip you remember, F-Boy?
François: Africa.
Alex: Wow, you remember that trip?
François: I just know that I went.
Simon: How do you know?
François: Because you told me!
Our six-year-old does not actually remember being in Australia at the age of three months, nor does he remember being in Monte Carlo or Italy at the age of three years. He does, however, understand that he was there with us when we talk about the trips, and recognizes himself in photos of all the places we’ve been together. When he went back to Oz at the age of five, he knew that he’d been there before and was excited to see all the things “he missed” the first time, like petting the kangaroos as opposed to being held by Daddy in a photo next to one. He recognizes the big carousels one sees everywhere in France as being French, and will always ask if photos of him or Johan riding one were taken in France—he was only wrong once, and it was Monaco so close enough! A fun addition to the experience is when we go somewhere we’d been previously with François only, and return with Johan. François becomes the big brother travel guide, regardless of whether he remembers anything about the place. Now whenever we travel, Johan asks, “Have I been there before?” Both boys know that we like to travel and to take them with us, which makes them feel special. They are excited to see new places and have new experiences, and pick up on the fact that Simon and I are excited, too—we share in the fun. That is the best takeaway from gallivanting across the galaxy with minors. We have two relatively fearless kids who love seeing new things and are excited to share adventures with Mom and Dad.
ALEXʹS TOP 10 TRAVEL MEMORIES:
10. A late dinner in Cannes with one month old Johan asleep in his car seat under the table
9. The complete change in mood when two bored boys on a car trip in Australia suddenly saw a kangaroo in a paddock
8. A great photo of François riding a reindeer with fake snow on the beach in the south of France
7. Sitting in a gorgeous orchard in Morocco while nursing François
6. Walking with baby Johan in a sling in Italy marveling that after nearly years I still remembered enough Italian to brag about my baby to an interested stranger
5. Being silently offered multiple glasses of wine by a sympathetic flight attendant during a flight from hell back from overseas with two cranky boys a passed out from exhaustion husband and an au pair with the flu.
4. François gleefully peeling off layer upon layer of bunting once he came inside during a
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