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Motherhood: Vacation reveals family comedy
Now that Daddy and I have survived our first full year of school with the boys — albeit preschool — I have a better understanding of the need for summer break.
What a relief it is to not have to worry about packing a snack every night and setting out clothes for the next day.
Little things, yes, but on those few days I forgot to pack Noah’s snack, he made no bones about letting me know.
“Mom! I had to share goldfish with the teacher today, you forgot my snack again.” Oops. Maybe if I kept the snacks on a lower shelf he could pack them himself?
The day after school was out this year, we headed to south Florida for a week in the unbelieveably hot sun with family and friends. No schedule or routine, and a welcome change in scenery and environment.
It’s funny how, when on vacation, a dip in a pool full of chlorinated water will suffice as a “bath” for the day (for the kids anyway).
Early in the week, we spent a day in a safari theme park full of animals. Driving through the refuge, we happened upon an ostrich couple. The female was sitting on the ground looking bored, while the male shook his tail feathers — literally. He flapped his huge wings and bobbed back-and-forth in what appeared to be a Vegas-style showgirl dance.
Completely oblivious, I asked, “What is he doing?”
“He’s shaking, Mommy!” Nick informed me.
At that point Daddy interjected, “What do you think he is doing?”
Ah, a visual lesson in the birds-and-the-bees. Just what we were not hoping for.
“Yes, Nick, you are right he is shaking,” I said stifling a laugh at my own ignorance as the male ostrich continued to try to woo the female.
While cruising in the car, the summer radio anthems were playing in the background.
Thankfully paying more attention to the hazardous driving going on around us, we missed out on the fact that the Black Eyed Peas were getting more air time than Delta. Until Noah blurted out a, “Gotta git, git … boom, boom, boom!” followed by a rousing rendition of “Ya know you want me” by Pitbull.
Our laughter only encouraged him, “Uno, dose, tres, quatro … Rumba!”
His head was bobbing and arms were flailing — kind of like an ostrich. But Noah successfully wooed his family who joined him in the convulsion-like dancing. We looked like a carload of goofballs, but we had fun.
Forget the staged memories of playing in the sun and sand, these are the moments and the laughter that make travel worth the effort, and summer break a welcome time for “kids” of all ages.
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0356 or dmjordan@coxohio.com.
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