One of my favorite family rituals is bedtime reading.
At our house, it has many forms. Dad might read to the littles while Mom reads to the bigs. Sometimes there is a special book for just one or two kids that they get to stay up later for (read: Harry Potter). One parent might read to everyone, or the bigger kids may hang out in the living room and read quietly to themselves.
Confession: it doesn’t happen every night. But it is something we all enjoy.
When we’re traveling, just getting the kids to bed at a decent hour can be a challenge. Still, I like to bring a couple of books along. We typically make time for it every few nights during the trip. It can be a great way to gather together and settle down at the end of the day.
Here’s what we’re reading on this trip.
We left The Compound around 11 a.m. in two cars.
Despite many opportunities to join us, our oldest begged off. Roads here are narrow, winding, and frequently change elevation; even dramamine didn’t make a drive appealing to him.
We drove north to Castara, stopping along the way to see a little waterfall a short walk down a stairway, and just out of sight of the road.
(Photo Credit: Kimona Paramour Photography)
Like the trip to your destination, once you arrive, there are some things you can’t control. There may be days where the unfamiliar food is a thrill to everyone in your family…except one very unhappy person. Maybe everyone is ready to sleep except for the ones who need it the most.
As an adventure-loving homebody, I need a certain amount of familiarity to feel comfortable, and try to provide the same thing for the rest of the fam while we are away from home.
For a long time, I thought I was a flexible person. I loved going new places, trying new foods, and meeting new people.
As time has passed, I have realized I am not that flexible.
About 13 years ago on New Year’s Eve, after a difficult 16 months at a job I hated, I quit. That night, an unseasonably warm one in the 60’s, I went with a friend to Times Square for New Year’s.
We got there in the early evening. The crowds prevented us from getting close to the ball. It was barely visible from where we stood, crushed in the pack of people, breathing in the cool air, completely exhilarated. I felt such a freedom from the heavy weight of the job I had given up. The energy in the city was incredible.
