It has been almost a week since I posted, since I have spent it in Krakow, Poland instead. I was thinking of being a good blogger and bringing my computer, but since it has to survive with me and little kids it is a really sorry case. It had few baths in coffee, replaced keyboard, missing keys on the new keyboard, and even more stuff spilled on. It does operate but not without a nifty keyboard that I attach to it. I could only imagine how classy that would be to even go through security with. Oh well maybe it is better since I could instead take in this beautiful city instead.
I started in the Main Square which holds Sukiennice or Cloth Hall named because it traditionally hosted merchants selling textiles. As early as 1257 merchants set up stands along the center of the square, replaced by a stone protective structure in the later part of the XIV century.
It burned down in 1555 and rebuilt to the design on Giovanni Maria Mosca just to be remodeled entirely in 1875.
Today the Hall sells traditional Polish trade and folklore, proudly displaying the shield of Polish cities above the booths.
Exotic spices, wax, salt from Wieliczka Salt Mine have been replaced by touristy nick nacks
Beautiful hand carved Chess sets
Amber jewelry and silver form Baltic Sea
Traditional Polish Costumes and doilies
Pottery from the town of Bloslawiec, known to make pottery as early as 7th century
Sheepskins
Leather
More Polish Pottery
Each proudly representing various Polish Cities
Hand blown and Carved Glassware
Dolls and Scarves
Tee shirts, even one with Coca Cola font spellin Cra-Cow
You can get all your traditional clothing and gifts purchased under one old roof.
I am sitting on a plane alone. No preschoolers that have been tied to my hip for over 3 years, no husband that has been at my side for over 7. It is quiet.
A child is crying kicking the back of my chair. I want to tell him to relax, take a breath, take it easy. Then I realize he is not mine. My kids are not here. I am all alone. No one knows me here. No one even knows that I have children and that my other name, Mom, is being called out thousand times a day. It is still.
I am on my way to Poland, to a funeral, where even the quiet, still sounds of a person are being missed. Where you do not enjoy being alone.
Tonight I kissed my husband a little bit longer. I hugged my kids a little bit stronger and I splurged on dinner. Because you never know when all you have is silence.
Since it has been getting nice and warm here in January I decided to go back to rating or reviewing Richmond area playgrounds that I may have missed in the past winter months. In case you are looking for a different park or for a list of Richmond area fun click here.
Harry Daniel Park is located just across the street form Chesterfield County Airport, or just down the street from Chesterfield County Court and other offices, in other words a perfect location. As you do your civil duty by trying to get out of sitting on jury duty your children can enjoy some fresh air just down the street. Attended of course.
The park is fenced and away form a busy street, even though it is right next to the parking lot which could get pretty busy. Hopefully no student drivers there.
It consists of one large structure that has numerous slides
My kids favorite climbing wall
Nooks and crannies
and what I assume is a sandbox
which is partially filled with sand and partially with leaves. Which makes me wonder if it will ever be cleaned and maybe even filled up before the spring.
There are always the swings and path to take a stroll in
Who knows you may find some wild animals, like a huge population of cats. Yes, Cats that all took up their residence at the park. Why I don’t know you will have to talk to them yourself.
Remember when your parents got their first VCR or Microwave but did not know how to use it? They were afraid to touch the buttons because they were not sure what they would do. As a child you stepped in when “someone broke the vcr” realizing that instead they pressed power or mute button.
Children often embrace technology a lot faster then adults and there is no denying that my kids love to play with my phone. Why wouldn’t they? With thousands of applications geared especially to children, sesame street podcasts, youtube, netflix and their own movies at their fingertips they do not even need to leave their crib. I do mean a real crib.
I have been saved so many times by placing it on the back of the driver seat and allowing my kids to watch movies on a long road trip. Even duck taping it to the wall of a cabin while camping so they could relax before taking a nap.
But there is a problem.
The problem is that I no longer have a phone “Where did you put my phone Mama?”
When I am lucky they will answer the phone when someone is trying to ring in by saying “Hi this is me, yes Mommy is in the kitchen I will get her for you,” but that is rare. Mostly I hear a ring for a second, and then silence. Was the ringing in my ear? Was someone trying to call in? Where is my phone?
Then a house phone rings and I hear my mom on the other side:
“I have been trying to call you all day, it rings for a second and then there is no dial tone”
“I’m sorry mom I am sure one of them is watching a movie or playing a game and they have already learned how to press the ignore button”
“That is what I figured and decided to call the house”…. Great !!!
This phone is so user friendly even a toddler can do it, one that does not even know how to write their name. Let’s just hope they know how to fix it if it breaks, without the temper tantrums.
You know those days when your house becomes a pharmacy? I seem to have officially entered these days. My children in the past two weeks have had case of bronchitis each, double ear infection each, flu and who knows what else, of course never at the same time. At this moment a sleep deprived mother like me is seriously thinking about keeping charts of who got what and at what time. Especially when the other half decides to ask at 5 am:
“What pain reliever did you give her last?”… “You know it was the orange one that was over there..”
“Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen?” “Which ever one is orange, over there…”
“Is that the last one you gave her or the one that you are suppose to give her?”
“Seriously, it is 5 am how many times do I need to answer the same question?”
So know I am starting charts when the kids have taken:
their antibiotics
her tamiful
his inhaler
her nebulizer
their ibuprofen
their acetaminophen
their food and liquid intake
And I only have 2 children that are sick right now. How do those mothers of 5 or more do it when everyone gets sick, especially when they are not old enough to administer or remember what they have taken? How do you in your sleep deprived self even able to recall who was given what and at what time?
I am assuming on those days any other questions like: Do you know where my wallet is? Where did you put my keys? or what is for dinner are answered by a blank stare and a comfy couch, bathtub or in some instances a spare bedroom. In reality who has 5 kids and a spare bedroom, and with all sick I am sure there is no room in marital bed anyway.
