Lawbreaker

I told Henry the other day: three-year-olds are lawbreakers. He thought this was hilarious, having become quite the law-follower (and enforcer) himself. It wasn't so long ago that I despaired of his lawlessness and the way he ruthlessly tested every single rule, guideline, or suggestion. Now I realize that he was just in a more-intense phase of the standard 3-4 year old modus operandum, the same place his sister is now in.

The other day was a good example: at the end of a long day of camp and then the public library, the kids were tired, needed a break, and I wanted to start dinner. "Each of you," I proclaimed, "can choose one episode of a video to watch together." Henry immediately considered this offer and made his choice: "Pound Puppies!" he said. Agatha's response, as it is to most things these days, was: nah, I'm not doing that. "Two episodes," she countered, "no, four."

I got so used to Henry's intense resistance that I'm still surprised at how well he does in all organized settings now. Not to brag, but his teachers love him. After three years of the same two teachers at preschool, this past year it was a teacher boom: he acquired four kindergarten teachers (two homeroom, two in the partner class), specialists in Spanish, computers, art, PE, and library who all know him well, several Sunday school teachers and now three or four teachers of summer camp. His teachers love him, I think, because he is an excellent student, pays attention, never (or almost never) gets in trouble, understands and follows the rules, and is enthusiastic about everything. When a teacher (or neighbor, because he's developed independent relationships with several of them, too) approaches me and begins, "I just wanted to tell you..." I still flinch, expecting them to talk about Henry's recalcitrance. But no. My chief lawbreaker now looooves the law, although he does sometimes delight in the anarchic amorality of his crazy sister.

Italian Adventure 2012

Well, this is your tax dollars at work: I won an NEH grant and used (some) of the money to spend 12 days in Naples and Rome this month. I traveled over and back with three other women, all classicists, and one of them my good friend Alexis. We stayed together in Naples for three days each at the beginning and the end of the trip, and for the five days in the middle I met my dear old friend (and college roommate), Cynthia, in Rome.

Naples was beautiful, gritty, and full of personality. It gets a bad rap as "dirty" and dangerous, but I never felt in jeopardy. Hundreds of massive churches, many of which are not even regularly open. Just too much patrimony to manage. They are nonchalant about it.

The antiquities of Herculaneum and Pompeii, as well as the Farnese marbles, are in the archaeological museum in Naples.

That's Vesuvius and me!

We took a day trip to Paestum, a Greek city later taken over by the Romans, which still has three standing temples, very archaic in style. Beautiful and amazing. I had never seen a real Greek temple before (just the one in Nashville!)

Traveling with Cynthia was just as easy and fun as it was 23 years ago when we toured Europe together. She is so game and interested in everything, so much fun and easy to get along with. We need to start planning our next trip together! It felt like a special gift to spend this time together and revisit some of the same sights we saw together at age 19.

Dumb art history professor pose.

On my way back to Naples I stopped at Caserta, home to a massive palace and garden.

My mom helped so much with the kids, but the biggest thanks go to Michael, who spent pretty much the whole time I was gone doing things with the children and taking care of things at work and home. He took them to wade in a local stream, built bark boats, took them to a revolutionary war re-enactment (the indians did not wear any pants!), and many other treats. I came home to a spotless house and happy children, and thus did not have to shoulder guilt or make up deferred maintenance as the price for my wonderful escape. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Michael!

Life Cycle

Overheard in the car on the way to camp today:

Henry: If you have water but no food, you can go like two weeks. If you have food but no water, you can only go like three days. And if you have food AND water, you can go a long, long time!
Agatha: Yeah, till the end of your life!
H: At the end of your life you'll die. Mommy and Daddy will die before us because they are older than us. And I'll die before you because I'm older than you.
A: And then I'll be lonely!
H: No, because you'll have children.
A: Yeah, I'll have children. Mommy, you'll be little again then, when I'm old, right?
H: No, she'll be dead.