I would like to say that everyday of my life is exciting…and most of the time I think it is, but that’s not to say that any one else would think so.
Like most parents every where, I have routines brought on by the lives of our children and what makes them happy. I thought I would give you a glimpse of these routines.
I just took on the role of taking the 4-year-old to school. PreK to be exact. Half day (or rather half morning) PreK. He was starting to cry when his dad would drop him off and leave, not sure why, so I took on the task (which by the way is HUGE because I am NOT a AM person AT ALL). This of course means taking the 3-year-old along for the walk to and from school, about 9 blocks each way from our apartment. Because this is, of course, New York City. School buses? Uh, no. Subways and/or a few blocks walk is how most of us do it here.
This is a glimpse of our walk back home and the things that have become must do’s in our morning routine:
A stop at the local market to say Good Morning to the crabs. This visit takes about 15 minutes…I often shop for things I don’t really need in this small, and expensive, little market. But the people love him and look forward to his visit every morning.
They are putting up the finishing touches on this new Tapas restaurant not too far from my home. My son loves to stop and say hi to the workers and watch them, especially if they are working with the bigger tools that make a lot of noise. They once made the mistake of asking him if he wanted to work with them. He said yes and started making his way to them. It took a lot to convince him he wouldn’t be working today.
Stop by and say hello to our favorite corner vendor of fruits and veggies. My little one greets him even when we don’t stop to pick up a treat, and he is always giving my kids free grapes, or bananas, or apples. We often stop to buy a fruit for our breakfast.
The corner bakery is not a daily stop (thank God), but a regular. We like to get the fresh-baked breads they have there. They bake them every morning, and constantly. It smells like my days in Santo Domingo visiting the local bread maker at 7:30am to pick up bread straight out of the oven.
With all these stops, here and there, saying hello and getting treats, we get home with just enough time to eat breakfast before heading out again to pick up the 4 year old.
Not too exciting, huh? Funny thing is, I love just watching my little one walk down the streets with a sense of confidence, knowing what corner to turn, where to stop. The smile on his face when he sees the people in his neighborhood. And we actually do have a fun time. This is life growing up in New York City and he is embracing all of it.
I would LOVE if you shared your routine in your neck of the woods with us!
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hicksgirl93
That was a nice story of your routine. Makes me miss NYC, walking to school and to the markets. *sigh* I live in Georgia now and my children are being raised here. We drive everywhere! You make everything sounds so NYC Chic! great pics too.
Mateo
Yeah these little daily routines are amazing. I get to find out so much about him. We take a bus to school every morning, and has made me aware of the crossing guards name which is "Mi" and he says that it's not spelled like the word "me" yet it sounds that same way. Depending on the bus driver he'll let me know if we're on the early or late bus. When something is out of place from the regular routine, he's also quick to let me know, and the funny part is I may have not even noticed it on my own. When the weather is good we tend to walk home from school which amazes many people since his school is near Union Sq. and we live in the Lower East Side by South Street. I guess the funniest thing is when I'm not with him, and someone will ask me about him from a store we may happen to go to. The inquiry about him in itself isn't funny but how they ask for him. "Are you SLMB's dad?" Like I'm the one who accompanies him.
Jasmine
This is so great. I remember dawdling during my morning commutes, first to the local public school and then to private school (90 minutes!), when I was a kid. Didn't have crabs to visit, though. That would have been way more fun.
Tammy
I love this post. What an incredible morning your son gets to experience everyday. He sees and does more on his way to school, than I do all day long! lol!
This post has inspired me to bring my son into the city this weekend, for just a 'snip-it' of what the city sights have to offer.
Thanks for sharing this.
p.S. LOVE the pics as well!
AnaRc
I miss Washington Heights 🙁 and looking at your routine make me envious. My kids are growing up in the city. We drive everywhere and they be in shock when they'll see the first chaos. We do go to my mom's once in a while and during the summer, I try to hang out as much as possible around the barrio.
What you're doing for you sons is so healthy and will help them grow up with confidence. Brava!
Wendy
What a great post! Yes! This is what it's like to be a city kid. And the Mama of a city kid. The texture of the city.