The cool fall breeze is starting to come in. It's not the hot, muggy weather it was a few weeks ago. But Carroll Garden Park at Court and Carroll St. has been our primary home. We moved over a mile to Union St., to Solange, Beonce's sisters former apartment. It's only one block to Carroll Gardens park and it has what the girls and the nannies need. It has fountains that run all summer and that the children love to run in from 10 months to 7. It has two playgrounds, one for younger children, babies,and one for 4 on up. It has several areas for the nannies and parents to sit in and then it has a basketball court, enough room to play soccer, ride your scooter, and throw a baseball.
The twins have been frequenting this area, particularly Gigi, who is determined to ride her scooter like Tess. If you ask Tess if she wants to go anywhere else, she says "No" and zooms off on her scooter. She has that very cool, together look. Gigi, who is more cautious, is riding more and starting to glide. Gigi likes things very secure and controlled.
Saturday, March 7, 2015
Dealing with Pratt!!!
One of the young college students working with us on the weekend is a lovely young woman from Utah who is on a full scholarship to Pratt. She's very quiet and sweet, and doesn't talk too much. It turns out that Stacy is preoccupied because she can't finish her final semester because she needs to pay $6,000 before she can register. Last year she worked a full time job to pay these incidental costs.
Cut to one month later where Stacy has raised the $6000 dollars thanks to a campaign on ______and lots of friends and family supporting her. She also got a $2000 dollar scholarship after my friend appealed to the President of Pratt.
She paid off her balance over a week ago, has been meeting with her professor on her thesis project in sculpture, but Pratt still hasn't let her register.
She's gone to the registars office every day, and she's basically ignored. She's already lost one semester. She had to move out of the dorm when she couldn't pay. Now what she is trying to save is one more semester at Pratt. She doesn't want to lose a whole year. If she can finish her class on sculpture and her thesis project, she won't have to repeat another year and $50,000 in expenses.
If an institution like Pratt is going to give working class kids full scholarships, these are kids without parents who know how to negotiate and maneuver schools, etc, kids without trust funds, then they should provide the kind of money smart education in this area so they don't get lost and burnt out in the shuffle.
It's hard enough to go away to college, to go away to a big city and an expensive Preppy school. Add on the stress of money, trying to fit in and triumph, and the stress is unbelievable.
She's already had to move out of the dorm and has lost one semester. You'd think they'd be on top of these kids with someone helping to guide them, but Linda's been all alone struggling with this situation.
I told her to say:" I need help" and that she does.
Cut to one month later where Stacy has raised the $6000 dollars thanks to a campaign on ______and lots of friends and family supporting her. She also got a $2000 dollar scholarship after my friend appealed to the President of Pratt.
She paid off her balance over a week ago, has been meeting with her professor on her thesis project in sculpture, but Pratt still hasn't let her register.
She's gone to the registars office every day, and she's basically ignored. She's already lost one semester. She had to move out of the dorm when she couldn't pay. Now what she is trying to save is one more semester at Pratt. She doesn't want to lose a whole year. If she can finish her class on sculpture and her thesis project, she won't have to repeat another year and $50,000 in expenses.
If an institution like Pratt is going to give working class kids full scholarships, these are kids without parents who know how to negotiate and maneuver schools, etc, kids without trust funds, then they should provide the kind of money smart education in this area so they don't get lost and burnt out in the shuffle.
It's hard enough to go away to college, to go away to a big city and an expensive Preppy school. Add on the stress of money, trying to fit in and triumph, and the stress is unbelievable.
She's already had to move out of the dorm and has lost one semester. You'd think they'd be on top of these kids with someone helping to guide them, but Linda's been all alone struggling with this situation.
I told her to say:" I need help" and that she does.
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Kidville University, Montesori Schools, Two year Old's, Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, NY
I was on the phone for 3 hours today with an Apple technician about my IPhone. The house phone was not charged and I had to Skype them to talk. I can't do it. I called and called and called and finally I got a technician. My screen keeps on going to black on my iPhone. I have to admit, I don't know how to work any of this stuff-not my iPhone, not my Mac computer, not Twitter, Facebook, nothing. Nada. I quit. I am a technology failure.
The girls, Tess and Gigi are two years, 4 months. They are wild. I had not lived with two year old's for 46 years when my eldest was two. I used to think that visiting my other grandchildren was exhausting. I am blown away by the energy of these girls. And they are so different. Gigi bounds out of bed at 6am talking, carrying Mr. Mouse. He's actually not a mouse, but a rabbit we got at Ikea and somehow he became Mr. Mouse. Gigi takes him everywhere with her and about a month ago she began to put him in her mouth while we went down the 3 flights of stairs. Well now there is a big round circle on the top of his head where she has been sucking him. It's gross and we are trying to figure out what to do about this. We have a bag to put Mr. Mouse in when she goes to her "class" or out of the house. But she won't always leave him there. If she gets a little bit nervous he goes into her mouth. Gigi's eyes light up and she has this huge smile.
Tess is a sleeper. She likes to lay in bed next to her mother and snuggle, or kick! She takes her time, has a darling sensitive smile, keeps track of everything, likes to dress up and have her hair done, checks out her environment before she gets involved. She likes to be very safe and secure.
Jordan has been in the girl's room to get them to sleep since Thanksgiving. We had to leave the apartment for a week and we were in various hotels and a loft and we did not have a space separate from the girls.
Two years, 4 months and Jordan is totally nervous about what she is going to do with the girls next year. It turns out that pre-schools for two and one half year old's are $18,000 to $30,000 per child per year! That's $60,000 dollars after taxes for two girls, provided they have room! They are not even 3!
Pratt is $50,000 a year. Who has this kind of money?
The girls, Tess and Gigi are two years, 4 months. They are wild. I had not lived with two year old's for 46 years when my eldest was two. I used to think that visiting my other grandchildren was exhausting. I am blown away by the energy of these girls. And they are so different. Gigi bounds out of bed at 6am talking, carrying Mr. Mouse. He's actually not a mouse, but a rabbit we got at Ikea and somehow he became Mr. Mouse. Gigi takes him everywhere with her and about a month ago she began to put him in her mouth while we went down the 3 flights of stairs. Well now there is a big round circle on the top of his head where she has been sucking him. It's gross and we are trying to figure out what to do about this. We have a bag to put Mr. Mouse in when she goes to her "class" or out of the house. But she won't always leave him there. If she gets a little bit nervous he goes into her mouth. Gigi's eyes light up and she has this huge smile.
Tess is a sleeper. She likes to lay in bed next to her mother and snuggle, or kick! She takes her time, has a darling sensitive smile, keeps track of everything, likes to dress up and have her hair done, checks out her environment before she gets involved. She likes to be very safe and secure.
Jordan has been in the girl's room to get them to sleep since Thanksgiving. We had to leave the apartment for a week and we were in various hotels and a loft and we did not have a space separate from the girls.
Two years, 4 months and Jordan is totally nervous about what she is going to do with the girls next year. It turns out that pre-schools for two and one half year old's are $18,000 to $30,000 per child per year! That's $60,000 dollars after taxes for two girls, provided they have room! They are not even 3!
Pratt is $50,000 a year. Who has this kind of money?
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Rent, Leases, ownership and Landlords!
Back to square one, looking for an apartment.
I can't figure it out. The landlord refused to renew out one year lease because we complained about mice and lead paint on the stairs and items they'd promised, doors to make the 3rd bedroom. This was despite paying $4000 a month on time.
Then, if we go to court, you get black listed as a "problem renter" for 10 years. It's all a nightmare, one I keep on thinking, how did we get into this? What part did I play? Jordan never complained before, but then she was a single person who could survive by picking up a meal, taking her laundry out, etc.
Now she has a family, one that requires a lot of wash, a lot of feeding, a lot of energy, and a lot of safety. That is Gigi and Tess, now 2 years old.
She is no longer single, and she has a mother with Parkinson's. Sometimes I am in fear, my body doesn't move, and when the lease wasn't renewed I got into fear.
A locksmith came by to change our locks. We got to talking and he said "do you know of another job I could get?" It was his own business but he said he was highly stressed. I didn't know what he could do, but I did know there is spiritual help for our problems, and that to be stressed and feel in fear is pointless. We are special and have a right to be.
Just like we have a right to pay our rent and expect some cooperation from the "landlord". As far as I am concerned, the only difference between ownership and renting is the owner puts a down payment down to get their "long lease"-maybe 15-20 years to pay it back, which is seldom done.
But in England, where there was "Lords" you never owned the land. There may be a house on it, but every 50-100-1000 years the lease has to be renewed at "present day prices". The "Lord" can lord over you there power. That's why we had the American Revolution!
I can't figure it out. The landlord refused to renew out one year lease because we complained about mice and lead paint on the stairs and items they'd promised, doors to make the 3rd bedroom. This was despite paying $4000 a month on time.
Then, if we go to court, you get black listed as a "problem renter" for 10 years. It's all a nightmare, one I keep on thinking, how did we get into this? What part did I play? Jordan never complained before, but then she was a single person who could survive by picking up a meal, taking her laundry out, etc.
Now she has a family, one that requires a lot of wash, a lot of feeding, a lot of energy, and a lot of safety. That is Gigi and Tess, now 2 years old.
She is no longer single, and she has a mother with Parkinson's. Sometimes I am in fear, my body doesn't move, and when the lease wasn't renewed I got into fear.
A locksmith came by to change our locks. We got to talking and he said "do you know of another job I could get?" It was his own business but he said he was highly stressed. I didn't know what he could do, but I did know there is spiritual help for our problems, and that to be stressed and feel in fear is pointless. We are special and have a right to be.
Just like we have a right to pay our rent and expect some cooperation from the "landlord". As far as I am concerned, the only difference between ownership and renting is the owner puts a down payment down to get their "long lease"-maybe 15-20 years to pay it back, which is seldom done.
But in England, where there was "Lords" you never owned the land. There may be a house on it, but every 50-100-1000 years the lease has to be renewed at "present day prices". The "Lord" can lord over you there power. That's why we had the American Revolution!
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Los Gatos, CA. and Cobble Hill, Brooklyn Ny
I'm now in Los Gatos, Ca. one hour from San Francisco, the most expensive city in the country. I came for my two grandsons graduation, one from middle school, and one from grade school. Quite a difference from PS 29 which prides itself on it's diversity, creativity, and intellectualism.This is dot com territory where the women drop the children off at school in their Jaguars and BMW SUV's, then head off to yoga, tennis, running, real estate, etc. It is the land of status-your children, your ring, your house, your dog, your decorator, kitchen, etc.
Los Gatos is more like Rye, New York, where Jordan's mother had lived. Go to one of the restaurants there and the "Dogs" will be compared, the men happy to tell you the history of picking their particular dog.
Brooklyn and PS 29 is a world away. So many worlds, and so many of them I lived in. We watched "Masters of Sex" on TV and all of these conservative old memories of St. Louis came up.
You can't go home again AMerica, but where is home Dorothy says.
a
Los Gatos is more like Rye, New York, where Jordan's mother had lived. Go to one of the restaurants there and the "Dogs" will be compared, the men happy to tell you the history of picking their particular dog.
Brooklyn and PS 29 is a world away. So many worlds, and so many of them I lived in. We watched "Masters of Sex" on TV and all of these conservative old memories of St. Louis came up.
You can't go home again AMerica, but where is home Dorothy says.
a
Graduation in Los Gatos, CA., in the heart of Silicon Valley
My last blog was on June 1st. On the 3rd I flew to San Jose to see my two grandsons graduate from the 5th and 8th grades respectively in Los Gatos, CA. Los Gatos is one of the most desirable areas in Silicon valley, with a small town atmosphere that deceives all the competition that's really underneath everything. In Los Gatos you can't be too smart, too internet, or too wealthy. In the heart of Silicon Valley, everything is done to the max.
So, to the audience when the "class president" thanked his parents, his teachers, and "everyone who helped make this experience at Blossom Hill Elementary School so incredible, one he will never forget," it seemed normal. I thought I was at a corporate pep rally and expected him to come around with a handshake any minute. Never in my 60 something years had I ever a speech like that from a 5th grader. My grandson, Jeremy, whose mom is a bit of a rebel, and my son was too before he died, was cool with his black short shirt, his striped pants, and his hair slicked up in a curl; was antsy, distracted, and ready to rumble. Who cares about speeches and corporate rallies, Jeremy wanted to move!
When my grand daughter, Sienna, was in the 4th grade she did the school play, the Seusical musical. The "corporate mom" who was running this show did it like a Broadway opening. There was a full band back up and professional singers, and Helga, my daughter in law, had to have Sienna's dress professionally made, special shoes, etc. It cost something like 120 dollars 16 years ago for her costume! Yep, in Los Gatos high 96% of the kids go on to college and their parents wear their accomplishments like war banners.
But back to our household. Helga was doing fifty things, arranging the house, getting ready for a party, making food, and my other son, Patrick, the youngest of the three, was supposed to get Bradley, 14, ready for the night time graduation in his black pants and white shirt. Patrick was lending Bradley his pants, and Helga was yelling for them to get ready because they had to leave in 10 minutes! Bradley is super tall and skinny. He'd been playing on the computer, Helga has no internet, so the boys have figured out to go in the bushes in the back yard and log on to a neighbors. She stopped the internet to keep the boys from being on it all the time.
"Hurry up, we're going to be late" she yelled, and as we were heading to the car, Bradley hopped out of the house with Patrick's black pants hanging off of him and a crumpled white shirt. His hair was all over the place and for every bit Jeremy looked "cool," Bradley was geeky, trying to smooth out his shirt, buckle his belt, and put his shoes on.
"You could have done a better job Patrick," Helga admonished as we headed to the cars. We would not all fit in one car, and we had to keep up the American way!
Bradley's graduation was at the same place as Sienna six years ago. Edward, my eldest, had not showed up for her graduation. He said he was searching for a parrot that had flown away from his mountain top house, but in reality he was contemplating suicide. A month later he did it.
Going to the same church where my son's funeral was brought up a lot of memories before I went to Los Gatos. But as usually happens, by the time I went to Los Gatos and the graduation I had processed a lot of feelings.
This was an in-door more sophisticated gathering than the 5th grade graduation. A number of the "in" girls were in short, tight, stretch dresses and heels. A lot of the girls looked more like seniors in high school than 8th grade graduates. Speeches were made by a lot more people, teachers, the class president, outstanding student in the sciences, creative writing, etc. The usual graduation speeches. I noticed when one of the students, Chad Reese's name was callled out, a ton of people clapped. I looked through the pamphlet and Chad was on no honor roll, etc. But he did play sports, and that I figured was the applause.
When Bradley's name was called out and he walked up to receive his diploma, he looked brainy, distracted, and bored! I agreed. A few minutes later, we were all outside and we saw Gretta, one of Helga's old friends from Los Gatos, her husband and three children. Bradley had been friends with their 14 year old daughter, Madge, since they were two. A tomboy who played drums, Madge wore a simple summer dress and flats. Helga curled her nose at how some of the girls were dressed. "It's ridiculous" she said.
Madge had two older siblings, John, 15 and George, 17, were playing water polo and their shoulders and chest had developed and filled out. You could see how playing a sport like that had helped them look like athletic young men.
Gretta said they were coming over for the party Helga was having and we waved goodbye. Helga and Sienna had baked a ton of cakes and made a beautiful setting of food. Helga is a natural at making beautiful parties, decorating the house in creative ways, and finding a place for everything. A number of old friends and neighbors came, but Gretta and her family didn't make it, Helga was about 20 minutes out of town on a dark winding road at night time. They probably went to another party. But we all had a great time and went to bed that night seeing bright stars in the sky. As a child I used to lay outside and see the stars in the sky and realize that other people had the same stars in other parts of the world. All in all, a great visit.
So, to the audience when the "class president" thanked his parents, his teachers, and "everyone who helped make this experience at Blossom Hill Elementary School so incredible, one he will never forget," it seemed normal. I thought I was at a corporate pep rally and expected him to come around with a handshake any minute. Never in my 60 something years had I ever a speech like that from a 5th grader. My grandson, Jeremy, whose mom is a bit of a rebel, and my son was too before he died, was cool with his black short shirt, his striped pants, and his hair slicked up in a curl; was antsy, distracted, and ready to rumble. Who cares about speeches and corporate rallies, Jeremy wanted to move!
When my grand daughter, Sienna, was in the 4th grade she did the school play, the Seusical musical. The "corporate mom" who was running this show did it like a Broadway opening. There was a full band back up and professional singers, and Helga, my daughter in law, had to have Sienna's dress professionally made, special shoes, etc. It cost something like 120 dollars 16 years ago for her costume! Yep, in Los Gatos high 96% of the kids go on to college and their parents wear their accomplishments like war banners.
But back to our household. Helga was doing fifty things, arranging the house, getting ready for a party, making food, and my other son, Patrick, the youngest of the three, was supposed to get Bradley, 14, ready for the night time graduation in his black pants and white shirt. Patrick was lending Bradley his pants, and Helga was yelling for them to get ready because they had to leave in 10 minutes! Bradley is super tall and skinny. He'd been playing on the computer, Helga has no internet, so the boys have figured out to go in the bushes in the back yard and log on to a neighbors. She stopped the internet to keep the boys from being on it all the time.
"Hurry up, we're going to be late" she yelled, and as we were heading to the car, Bradley hopped out of the house with Patrick's black pants hanging off of him and a crumpled white shirt. His hair was all over the place and for every bit Jeremy looked "cool," Bradley was geeky, trying to smooth out his shirt, buckle his belt, and put his shoes on.
"You could have done a better job Patrick," Helga admonished as we headed to the cars. We would not all fit in one car, and we had to keep up the American way!
Bradley's graduation was at the same place as Sienna six years ago. Edward, my eldest, had not showed up for her graduation. He said he was searching for a parrot that had flown away from his mountain top house, but in reality he was contemplating suicide. A month later he did it.
Going to the same church where my son's funeral was brought up a lot of memories before I went to Los Gatos. But as usually happens, by the time I went to Los Gatos and the graduation I had processed a lot of feelings.
This was an in-door more sophisticated gathering than the 5th grade graduation. A number of the "in" girls were in short, tight, stretch dresses and heels. A lot of the girls looked more like seniors in high school than 8th grade graduates. Speeches were made by a lot more people, teachers, the class president, outstanding student in the sciences, creative writing, etc. The usual graduation speeches. I noticed when one of the students, Chad Reese's name was callled out, a ton of people clapped. I looked through the pamphlet and Chad was on no honor roll, etc. But he did play sports, and that I figured was the applause.
When Bradley's name was called out and he walked up to receive his diploma, he looked brainy, distracted, and bored! I agreed. A few minutes later, we were all outside and we saw Gretta, one of Helga's old friends from Los Gatos, her husband and three children. Bradley had been friends with their 14 year old daughter, Madge, since they were two. A tomboy who played drums, Madge wore a simple summer dress and flats. Helga curled her nose at how some of the girls were dressed. "It's ridiculous" she said.
Madge had two older siblings, John, 15 and George, 17, were playing water polo and their shoulders and chest had developed and filled out. You could see how playing a sport like that had helped them look like athletic young men.
Gretta said they were coming over for the party Helga was having and we waved goodbye. Helga and Sienna had baked a ton of cakes and made a beautiful setting of food. Helga is a natural at making beautiful parties, decorating the house in creative ways, and finding a place for everything. A number of old friends and neighbors came, but Gretta and her family didn't make it, Helga was about 20 minutes out of town on a dark winding road at night time. They probably went to another party. But we all had a great time and went to bed that night seeing bright stars in the sky. As a child I used to lay outside and see the stars in the sky and realize that other people had the same stars in other parts of the world. All in all, a great visit.
Sunday, July 27, 2014
I'm Going Back to LA and the Bay Area for Three Weeks!
So many feelings and memories are coming up. I am going back to the bay area, Los Gatos, for my grandson's graduation from grade school and the second grandson is graduating from middle school. Everyone is getting bigger. My youngest turned 40, oh my god. And my oldest, not counting my son who died, has twins 19 months old at 45 as a single mom. The other day we took two sets of twins to the Brooklyn Museum for Children. We weren't sure we were going to make it, Gigi and Tess were getting tired and it wasn't even 9:30. My friend Carol had been director of the museum for 12 years and had raised 8 million to run it. She also has Parkinson's and we take classes at Mark Morris Dance Studio together. She didn't make it to the museum, but when Amy pulled up in her station wagon and we got 4 car seats into the back, it was wild. At least the weather was nice, not pushing around a stroller in the snow.
"Oh Wow" Gigi said when she went inside the museum. It was quite amazing with all these nooks, crannies, sandboxes, water falls, the twins were so happy. It's fun to watch life through your grandchildren's eyes. They are quite magical, but getting four toddlers in a mini van is not easy! Amy and Jordan are "uber" mothers!
"Oh Wow" Gigi said when she went inside the museum. It was quite amazing with all these nooks, crannies, sandboxes, water falls, the twins were so happy. It's fun to watch life through your grandchildren's eyes. They are quite magical, but getting four toddlers in a mini van is not easy! Amy and Jordan are "uber" mothers!
Saturday, July 26, 2014
The Crossing Guards
We were at the park at 7:30 this morning. They have crossing guards at every block
surrounding the park, which is near a school that is open in the
summer.. And they are all different. First near Rite Aide is this tall
(almost 6 feet), young black woman who is always smiling, almost
laughing, as she greets you and lets you cross the street. She wears
her black hair up in a swooped cone on top of her head. She is very regal and innocent and she seems like a kid in a candy shop.
At another crossing a middle aged white woman, with a very plain short bob, greets you checking to see how everyone is doing. She says in a little bit she'll be going on her break (it's now 9:20), and then she'll come back at noon, and then when the kids get out at 3.
The third crossing guard is a young black man whose hair is braided and he has a back pack on. He seems a little overwhelmed with the process and takes it all very seriously. He didn't smile or say a word, just came over to help us cross the street.
At the top of the park is a young woman, thin, not smiling, just helping you cross the street and being done with it.
It's summer and a few minutes after we arrived the fountains were on for the children to run through. Jordan has made it a habit for several months to go out with the twins before going to work. Of course this is after being up with Tess from 5:30 on, feeding the girls, dressing the girls, cleaning up the kitchen,etc. By the time she goes to work she's already done a fulldays work.
Two mothers and one father arrived at the park with their nanny. The nannies were all black and overweight. They stood there while the parents watched their toddlers for a few minutes before going to work. They looked embarrassed and bored.
I watched this one very thin mother in a cute summer dress bring her 2 year old into the kids play area. The nanny stood there as the mother ran around with the little boy. She was about 20 pounds over weight in cut off jeans and a tee shirt. I wondered what she was thinking as she watched the mother play with her son.
Yesterday I went with Marie to a swim party in the afternoon. There was 12 toddlers and 9 nannies, all from "the islands" Marie said. Six of the women were overweight and everyone sat around and watched the children get in the wading pool and play in the wet table. There was no water or refreshments for the adults, just a wet table, a wading pool, and a sprinkler for the toddlers. I was the only white adult at this gathering, and the twins grandmother. Normally the nannies would feel uncomfortable with me around, but I don't seem to upset them too much any more. Marie has a whole group of nannies she has "play dates" with.
It's a whole world within a world, these few blocks surrounding the park, and in the morning you get the whole mass of humanity going to work, taking their kids to school, older people wandering the neighborhood. In LA everyone would be in their car and in traffic.
At another crossing a middle aged white woman, with a very plain short bob, greets you checking to see how everyone is doing. She says in a little bit she'll be going on her break (it's now 9:20), and then she'll come back at noon, and then when the kids get out at 3.
The third crossing guard is a young black man whose hair is braided and he has a back pack on. He seems a little overwhelmed with the process and takes it all very seriously. He didn't smile or say a word, just came over to help us cross the street.
At the top of the park is a young woman, thin, not smiling, just helping you cross the street and being done with it.
It's summer and a few minutes after we arrived the fountains were on for the children to run through. Jordan has made it a habit for several months to go out with the twins before going to work. Of course this is after being up with Tess from 5:30 on, feeding the girls, dressing the girls, cleaning up the kitchen,etc. By the time she goes to work she's already done a fulldays work.
Two mothers and one father arrived at the park with their nanny. The nannies were all black and overweight. They stood there while the parents watched their toddlers for a few minutes before going to work. They looked embarrassed and bored.
I watched this one very thin mother in a cute summer dress bring her 2 year old into the kids play area. The nanny stood there as the mother ran around with the little boy. She was about 20 pounds over weight in cut off jeans and a tee shirt. I wondered what she was thinking as she watched the mother play with her son.
Yesterday I went with Marie to a swim party in the afternoon. There was 12 toddlers and 9 nannies, all from "the islands" Marie said. Six of the women were overweight and everyone sat around and watched the children get in the wading pool and play in the wet table. There was no water or refreshments for the adults, just a wet table, a wading pool, and a sprinkler for the toddlers. I was the only white adult at this gathering, and the twins grandmother. Normally the nannies would feel uncomfortable with me around, but I don't seem to upset them too much any more. Marie has a whole group of nannies she has "play dates" with.
It's a whole world within a world, these few blocks surrounding the park, and in the morning you get the whole mass of humanity going to work, taking their kids to school, older people wandering the neighborhood. In LA everyone would be in their car and in traffic.
Sunday, June 1, 2014
The Sandbox at Cobble Hill Park, Cobble Hill Brooklyn
It was 8:30 in the morning. We were up and out with the Tess and Gigi in the stroller. On our way outside we saw our new neighbor next door, a woman who seemed to be in her early forties with two girls, 3 and 5. Monica was going into her three story brownstone they'd just purchased for 2.5 million or more. That was the asking price in the winter. It didn't sell then, but in the spring. We said our hellos as she was taking her mother and the girls inside to check out the house.
Monica is in investment, and it was new buyer's excitement. The house is an old Brownstone, three floors, the bottom floor I always have called a "basement" because the front windows are usually at ground level. It's in the opposite side of the house, in the garden area that you have the full height of the room at the yard level. The front of these brownstones is often four or five steps down from the street. This brownstone they will use the "basement" as the kitchen, and dining or play room. The main floor was two drawing rooms originally. And then the top floor is bedrooms. It's the main floor that today many families don't know what to do with because if you eat in the "basement", what do you do on the first floor? But Brownstones are the main single building in the better areas of Brooklyn. So everybody tries to figure out how to make the most of the space.
We waved goodbye and made our way towards the sandbox in Cobble Hill park. It is a very small park, about a half a block long. It was 8:30 in the morning and we were the first in the sandbox. Jordan took out their buckets and two shovels and they sat down in the sand. A few minutes later three young women in their thirties showed up with a girl 15 months and a boy 14 months. They brought their own bucket and play tools. "Sandbox" etiquette is something I mentioned. Like Tess might be sitting there playing with her shovel or some other beach toy that's getting passed around and another "baby" or "young child" will come over and try to take the shovel out of their hand. Do you let them take it, or do you say "it's Gigi's?" What about other left over toys in the sandbox?
We were talking about this when one of the mothers said, "there should be a blog on this!" Well, here it is-the sandbox in Cobble Hill park, Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, NY.
Monica is in investment, and it was new buyer's excitement. The house is an old Brownstone, three floors, the bottom floor I always have called a "basement" because the front windows are usually at ground level. It's in the opposite side of the house, in the garden area that you have the full height of the room at the yard level. The front of these brownstones is often four or five steps down from the street. This brownstone they will use the "basement" as the kitchen, and dining or play room. The main floor was two drawing rooms originally. And then the top floor is bedrooms. It's the main floor that today many families don't know what to do with because if you eat in the "basement", what do you do on the first floor? But Brownstones are the main single building in the better areas of Brooklyn. So everybody tries to figure out how to make the most of the space.
We waved goodbye and made our way towards the sandbox in Cobble Hill park. It is a very small park, about a half a block long. It was 8:30 in the morning and we were the first in the sandbox. Jordan took out their buckets and two shovels and they sat down in the sand. A few minutes later three young women in their thirties showed up with a girl 15 months and a boy 14 months. They brought their own bucket and play tools. "Sandbox" etiquette is something I mentioned. Like Tess might be sitting there playing with her shovel or some other beach toy that's getting passed around and another "baby" or "young child" will come over and try to take the shovel out of their hand. Do you let them take it, or do you say "it's Gigi's?" What about other left over toys in the sandbox?
We were talking about this when one of the mothers said, "there should be a blog on this!" Well, here it is-the sandbox in Cobble Hill park, Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, NY.
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
The Girls Are Wild!-the Water at Carroll Gardens Park!
Gigi and Tess are 19 months and the are busy, busy, busy! You can't have anything out, nothing, nada.
We went to the park yesterday and Tess wanted to stand at the water fountain for 45 minutes. She threw a fit when Jordan took her away from it. And they were spraying water from these fountains that the chidden run through. Gigi got in there, shoes, clothes and got soaking wet. SHe was shivering. These girls sure like water. Tess screams when we take her out of the tub.
I'm going to LA in a week, and San Fran. One of my other grandchildren is graduating from middle school. Jordan says it will cost her a bunch of money while I'm gone. I told her that must mean I'm valuable!
Living with one another hasn't been easy. The girls we agree on but we're two women in one household. She will point out things I've done, or said and one has to realize that a child's viewpoint on you isn't the full picture. But its hard when they bring up stuff you can't just get away from and they have their opinion on it. But that is life and that is children. The girls are simpler in that respect-at least for now!
We went to the park yesterday and Tess wanted to stand at the water fountain for 45 minutes. She threw a fit when Jordan took her away from it. And they were spraying water from these fountains that the chidden run through. Gigi got in there, shoes, clothes and got soaking wet. SHe was shivering. These girls sure like water. Tess screams when we take her out of the tub.
I'm going to LA in a week, and San Fran. One of my other grandchildren is graduating from middle school. Jordan says it will cost her a bunch of money while I'm gone. I told her that must mean I'm valuable!
Living with one another hasn't been easy. The girls we agree on but we're two women in one household. She will point out things I've done, or said and one has to realize that a child's viewpoint on you isn't the full picture. But its hard when they bring up stuff you can't just get away from and they have their opinion on it. But that is life and that is children. The girls are simpler in that respect-at least for now!
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