Drinking it in

There comes a time as a parent that you realize although you can control the experiences you set before your child, you cannot control their reaction to it. Something that you love or loved as a child may not be at all interesting to your child. And as my poor physicist father can attest, after raising three scientifically ambivalent children, your kids are not little yous.

They are their own people, drawing off your collective genetics and taking them in a different direction, sometimes farther, than you ever thought possible.

But ever so often something special to you clicks with them too and its awesome.

On our New York work-vacation (my work and their vacation), the very-much-missed Mimi and I took the girls to see their first Shakespeare play. At four and six this is quite a stretch, the language is challenging, but the circus-themed performance of Comedy of Errors had many visuals to enjoy - a lady with a pink beard and mermaid in a wheelchair - and Athena especially, drank it all in and loved every minute of it.

It was delicious to watch.

Of course it helps that the Festival is held outside on one of the most beautiful pieces of property ever to exist and picnicking beforehand is a must.

Zoe got a little bit antsy towards the second half of the 2nd Act and after a loud stage whisper to Mimi "When is it going to be over?" was quickly whisked away to the concession stand to help close out the cash registers and other fun activities.

Athena stayed until the last curtain call, absolutely riveted.

She is now completely in love with Lucky Gretzinger who played Antipholus in Comedy of Errors and romanced the mermaid right out of her wheelchair.

Hmm, maybe she is a little me.