Visiting Sue

Feeling a little adrift in the world lately, I was pleased and grateful to accept an invitation to visit my aunt Sue and uncle Barry in London, Ontario (which has a river Thames running through it). It was initially scheduled for early July, but then circumstances dictated a change and the trip was finally squeezed in just before summer was gone. It was a wonderful trip. Sue is one of those people that children adore; I adored her when I was little, and those bonds we make when we're small last a long time. So I jumped at the chance to spend a week with her and my uncle, and to have the kiddos get to know them better.

It was a jam-packed but peaceful week, in many ways a child-led week, and certainly a rejuvenating week for the kids and me. Sue is a Waldorf teacher. Little or no screen time for children. Organic food that is recognizable as, well, food. Hell, she drives a Prius. And always ALWAYS has time to listen to a child. She reminds me of the kind of parent I want to be.

Isn't their garden like a park? It's bigger than our closest park, actually. And full of little surprises. Once home, Liam announced that he'd like to marry their statue of Alice in Wonderland.

Some of the things we did deserve their own posts, so I'll catch you up on those things over the next few days, but I'll tell you that there was dancing, many many songs, talks late into the night, and quite a lot of coffee. Sue might be crunchy, but she knows where her Starbucks is.

Even when a trip is going exceptionally well, we have to squeeze in some god-awful moments: after clearing immigration in Toronto I herded the kiddos into a family washroom. While I was...umm....busy, if you get what I mean, Liam decided he'd had enough and opened the washroom door nice and wide. A door that opened directly across from one of the terminal's moving sidewalk thingies.

If people weren't looking at first, they certainly must have been after I shrieked.

Comments

[sue]

Hi Kath,
What a wonderful posting! Just a quick clarification-, I do resourse teaching at a Waldorf School- being a Waldorf class teacher would be entirely too daunting (plus yet more training). But I am a hearty supporter!!!
The pics are stunning...Olivia with Alice is a dream. There's that wink...usually so quick you just think you see it!!!Miss you all; the visit was a gift.
Love you
Sue

[Cathi]

Sounds like an amazing and well-deserved rejuvenation time. Love the photos- I'll be anxiously awaiting your next post.

[Kristin]

I'm glad you were able to get away and have such a great time! You guys deserve it!

Love the potty story! :)

[stefaneener]

You know that that's one of the best stories you will have for Liam in years to come.

The trip looks dreamy, in all the best ways.

[Holly Jo]

That face - he looks so innocent. :) How could he do that?

The garden looks divine, but that statue is unbelievable. What a photo.

Glad you had a good time.

[mary maddox]

Sounds like a good, rejuvenating trip. Glad to see my kids again. Great photos. Hugs and kisses for both of them. Love, Bobby

[Kari]

Liam just made me laugh away the nausea...keep that up...k

[Stacey]

Sounds wonderful. Can I go spend a week with Sue? I love the pic of the kids watching her and the juicer.