The Mothners

When city friends ask me how I like the burbs, I say it still feels a little like we’re on vacation (though Mark did go back to work after one week of getting settled – he’s still home by 6 pm or earlier!). Almost every day Julie asks to go ‘swimming at the club’ (the fabulous New York Athletic Club). With their floaties, the kids can swim independently in the ‘big water’ as Julie calls it.

Sunglasses are a must.

There’s also a great kiddie pool, a playground, a great cafe with a poolside patio, flowers, lounge chairs to nap on, and great Long Island Sound views.

And special events like overnight camp-outs (we only stayed for the tent set-ups – very exciting for Max – and the hilarious magic show, but Mark may buy a tent and get over his camping aversion for the one in August).

There are also lots of clean, uncrowded nearby beaches, like Harbor Island in nearby Mamaroneck (where Mark’s grandparents lived). Julie liked building and trying to sit on sandboxes, while Max was very serious about his bucket duties – you can see him in the background in the water in some photos. On the way out Max insisted we stop at the Fireman’s carnival where they both did a monkey gun house maze twice, then Max went on a pretty scary dragon roller coaster twice. The second time Max wanted to ‘drive’ the dragon in front, the scariest spot. Mark had my phone so no photos, but we were pretty proud of his bravery given the neurological issues he sometimes has with too much motion

We visited Target, a giant Fairway grocery store, and Costco (first trip for the kids and Mark – ‘this store has a lot of stuff’ Max said). Kids love riding in shopping carts and we like having a car to carry stuff home.

We’ve checked out local library programming including storytimes and an animal show. Max liked the hedgehog and turtle but most of all watching (and helping) them clean up after.

At a summer solstice yoga event at the high school, Max demonstrated some pretty intense moves (we wish we had some pictures of Julie at a family yoga class at a local studio during savasana when she put on an eye pillow, lay under a blanket, and fell asleep, it was so cute).

Back home, we like playing soccer in the backyard. It took us a while to convince them not to use their hands. The kids take turns sitting on the back steps in between goals.

Julie provides her own cheering section.

While we do miss having so many options for healthy, tasty take-out and delivery, backyard bbqs are awesome!

And we get creative with what we have at home, as in this delicious antipasti platter Max created from our pantry and fridge. The bunny crackers were Julie’s idea. Max devoured the anchovies.

There’s a fun playground at the kids’ future school around the corner. But really these guys could just stay on big couch in the bonus room reading books with Daddy all day.

We’ve also had some fun visitors and many train rides into the city. More photos of suburban/city adventures coming soon!

We are way behind on this blog for many reasons, one them being we are getting ready for a big change. This Friday we are moving to a house in Pelham, the first suburb in Westchester bordering on the Bronx. Mark has been eager for more space and less hassle for a while now, and when we found this beautiful house in a great location he convinced me it would a great move for our family. It is about an 8 minute walk to the train station (it often takes longer just to get to our lobby on our crazy elevator), then around 17 minutes to 125th Street and 29 minutes to Grand Central. Mark’s commute will be around 40 minutes, much of it on an uncrowded, clean Metro North train. The drive to the Upper Westside is about 20 minutes depending on traffic. We plan on coming into the city lots with and without the kids.

The house was built in 1900 but newly renovated, with lots of new and old details we love. And everything seems so big compared to our cramped apartment – 5 bedrooms and an awesome kitchen (2 ovens & 2 dishwashers!) for all the cooking we’ll have to do without all the delivery/take-out options (though there is a Harry’s Burritos a short drive away).

After living in the city for so long (13 years for me, 21 for Mark), usual suburban advantages are so exciting – an actual laundry room and a backyard. We can’t wait to use this big electric grill and eat on the patio (at least when it’ not too cold/hot/raining). We just bought this comfy glider for the porch.

Here are some of the rooms with the previous owners’ furnishings. We have had fun picking out paint colors and furniture shopping. There is a playroom/library with built-in shelves, a guest room (come visit!) and a finished basement with lots of storage. Mark’s Lamborghini and George Gervin ‘Ice Man’ posters will finally be on display again in his subterranean man cave.

One thing I will miss about Manhattan is never having to drive. We will be a short walk from Pelham’s downtown, but we will often rely on our new sensible Toyota Highlander (in Moulin Rouge) that can seat 7 but isn’t gigantic with an amazing GPS system and rear camera that will hopefully make my driving experience smoother than it was it was before I moved here. It will be nice to always have a climate controlled transportation option after trying to forge through giant muddy ice puddles this brutal winter. Max is super excited when he gets to ride in the car.

We have such a good time in NYC and will miss so many things. This city has seen me through some of my most joyful and most challenging times – I followed my dreams, learned how to let them go, met the love of my life and was blessed with two delightful city kids who love Zabars Nova, Italian prosciutto, Lauderee Macarons, truffles from fancy chocolate stores, storytimes at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, international concerts at Lincoln Center, shopping at hip boutiques, and playgrounds, puppet shows, and castles in Central Park. They can hail a cab, swipe a metrocard and find the ‘door close’ button on any elevator. I treasure all our adventures and look forward to continuing to explore the city, though it will take a little more planning and commute time. There is much we will miss but much we won’t. When I was pondering this move an old woman pushed Max on the subway stairs because he was too slow and a man digging through a trash can exposed himself to Julie. This Onion article kind of says it all (excuse the profanity, it’s unavoidable here).

There is so much exciting energy around us but also so much negative, grouchy energy, especially when the weather is bad, which is often. We have met so many interesting, wonderful people here and have said goodbye to many of them as they search for more sustainable, less stressful lives elsewhere. We will be sad to not see our neighbors and the families at Max’s wonderful school as often, but we are looking forward to joining a more settled community with many ex-Manhattanites like ourselves. Max is going to camp this summer at his new school, which is on 10-acres with an outdoor swimming pool and horses. Julie will be joining him there in the fall a few days a week. The following year he will be making the three minute walk to the excellent public elementary school around the corner (with no application process or wait list, unlike our current neighborhood’s public school).

We will be moving two days after Max’s school ends and two weeks after Brittney’s 10-day Russian adventure (more photos from that later) but we have movers helping us pack and unpack and look forward to getting super organized, at least to start. Someone asked if I was going to go on a cultural binge before I left, Mark laughed because I’ve been averaging about 1 live show a week since I moved here, and 1-2 museums a week since I had kids. I just got tickets for two shows this summer in Manhattan -‘Heathers The Musical’ and Christopher Wheeldon’s ‘Alice in Wonderland’ – but we are excited to explore the new neighborhood. We will be a short drive to the Bronx Zoo, the Bronx Botanical Garden, farms (including one, Stone Barns, with an acclaimed restaurant), nature reserves, and an athletic club with an Olympic size pool, kiddie pool, outdoor cafe, and private beach. So many suburban joys nearby – Costco! Target! Giant groceries where people with strollers don’t get pushed and yelled at. A mall with a Nordstroms and a Cheesecake Factory! I’m hoping to continue conducting research in Manhattan for Kid On The Town and also expand to Westchester and more general-interest content. Mark has been going to the house a lot lately to get everything ready for our move, and the kids are overjoyed when they get to go with him. Hopefully they are as happy when they are sleeping there (in their own rooms!). I am a little scared and sad but grateful to have such a lovely place and lovable people to share this new adventure with.

We love seeing Mark’s family in Atlanta every year for Passover. Max got to visit the cockpit on the plane ride down. We’ve lost track of how many times he’s flown, at least 30.

Saturday we hung out at the Dunwoody Nature Center, a wonderful place – and we’re not just saying that because Mark’s brother Alan is the executive director. Great rocks for racing cars down with cousins.

Also beautiful streams to cross and playgrounds to explore.

Before dinner at the hotel, these lucky kids got storytime in the lobby with Bubbe.

The next morning we had a birthday brunch for Bubbe back at the hotel. So nice to sit outside in sunshine and celebrate.

Julie liked hanging out with Anna and Sam and eating all their bacon.

The outdoor fireplace was also fun to climb and jump off of, and there were many hats to stack.

Then we explored the awesome Atlanta Aquarium. Later I asked the kids what their favorite part of the aquarium was. Max said the manta rays and all the ‘caves’ you could go in. Julie said ‘Sam. And Anna. Bubbe.’ AS usual, Sam and Anna were very patient with the kids, which helped us out a lot and made the kids very happy. This year Aunt Becky and Ryan joined us also, and Julie was always asking for ‘cousin Ryan.’

Julie and Bubbe were snuggling on the couch when this conversation occurred:
Julie: “Hi Bubbe”
Bubbe: “Hi Julie”
Julie: “I love you”
But we also got a grown-ups only night out at delicious Southern restaurant Table & Main with okra croquettes, fried green tomatoes, fried chicken, and every dessert on the menu.

You’ve probably heard the story of Brittney’s Rockette friend Mark set up with his co-worker who fell in love. They moved to Atlanta and had a baby so we got to meet the adorable result of our matchmaking.

Much of the weekend was devoted to preparing a delicious Passover Seder. Max and Ryan helped Alan make the charoset.

Poppy led a great Seder. The kids enjoyed the plague ‘puppet show’ as Max called it.

Julie found the Afikoman (hidden piece of matzah).

She also liked eating the matzah. And sitting on Bubbe’s lap. And wearing the sunglasses we found with the plague masks. And finally eating the chocolate tart she talked about all evening.

The Atlanta Mothners’ house was such a lovely place to spend a spring weekend. And Max loved playing with Sam’s bow and folding, unfolding, lounging and eating in some very exciting chairs in the garage.

Thanks to all of Mark’s family for a wonderful time. Hope to see you soon!
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