First Quarter Rewind: Museums

I mentioned it a couple of weeks ago, but since we've been here several months, I wanted to make sure and document some of the amazing things we've done in the city. First up, I decided to share about the museums we've explored. We actually ended up getting a membership at three out of the four museums we've been to. Here they are!

Brooklyn Children's Museum
This is the one we've frequented by far the most and I expect that to continue. First of all, it's in Brooklyn. Secondly, it's geared entirely toward children. In fact, I like this particular children's museum so much because it seems to be (mostly) geared toward children who are our kids' ages- the toddler and preschool sets. I think it would still be fun for a slightly older child, but the activities are very appropriate for their ages and not above their heads. I've heard that the children's museum in Manhattan is geared toward older kids and that was the case, in some ways, the case with a lot of the activities at the museum at home. There wasn't near as much that Graves could do as there is at BCM.

Also, whereas two of the main focuses of the museum in Jackson are literacy and nutrition, there's a BIG focus on culture at the museum here. I think both are neat because it speaks to an awareness on the part of the museums' directors as far as the specific needs of the children in the respective states and I truly love that. But honestly, I'm more interested in different cultures than in healthy eating. Just being honest.

The museum here is literally the oldest children's museum in the country and during the race riots of the early 90s played a huge part in facilitating reconciliation throughout the neighborhood it's located in. This neighborhood was, at the time, the epicenter of a very violent struggle between Hasidic Jews and African Americans. I think that's really amazing and I love that serving it's community in that way is part of the museum's history.

This was our first trip...

Cork box- similar to a sand box, but not. It was the first time I'd ever seen one! 

Graves petted the giant hissing cockroach! 

Ready for the West Indian parade. This is part of a whole area called "World Brooklyn". The neighborhood that the museum is located in actually has a really substantial Caribbean population and there's a huge parade every year. 

The Afrikan area. There's this dress up station as well as an Afrikan market where you can buy pretend groceries.

On a different day, we spent our time almost exclusively in the "tot" area. I really like that there's a designated spot for tinier people (under age five-- we'll probably still sneak Annie in, being that she's "a little five" as she tells everyone who asks her age)....

We dressed up...

and made music...

and played with lions...

and created a magnetic airplane for Minnie, Cookie, and us...

and built a house for Minnie...

and played in the fabulous BLUE! sand.

Annie and Peyton did venture up to the second floor for a bit....

They did some brainstorming...

and demonstrated what conservators do!

We also took advantage of some of the special programming. One day we went for storytime. The most gentle woman read a book about monsters and we created our own. The chick who lead it was, I'm guessing, close to my age and she was SAINTLY. One little boy kept getting all in her face (his mom had a tiny baby with her and was not doing much to restrain him). Anyway, I have no idea if the kid had needs I don't know about or if he was just a little unruly. But it was rough. And she did SO well at gently redirecting him throughout the story. She never really stopped what she was doing entirely, but she'd glance up from the book and offer for him to move his chair right up beside her where he could see better, for instance. It was very encouraging to see someone handle a situation like that so graciously and without getting flustered. Color me impressed. 

The Metropolitan Museum of Art 

We've been to The Met a couple of times and really enjoyed it. It's especially impressive how much Annie is able to appreciate and absorb. There is SO much to see and so many different galleries and a ticket is (understandably) pretty pricey, so even if we don't go a ton, I think we'll get our money's worth out of our membership. 

The day we went and stayed the longest we toured an instrument exhibit. Both kids actually really enjoyed it. Annie learned the different types of instruments and how to classify them (wind, percussion, ect.)

Maps out- time to tour!

I know this will probably be weird to most people. I myself honestly wouldn't have been drawn to it a few years ago. But this kettledrum was my favorite thing we saw at The Met. I absolutely loved it and I even took Annie back to it to show her. I picked her up and said to her "that's a momma feeding her baby and that's someone writing a book. Writing and taking care of my babies are both things that are very important to me". When I said "taking care of my babies" she just threw her arms around my neck and squeezed me so tight. I know that was an NYC moment I'll never forget.

I couldn't not share this, either. This dragon instrument was Graves's favorite thing. We literally revisited it about four times. 

American Museum of Natural History

We've only been here once, but again, bought a membership. We ended up being there on a super crowded day (it was during Spring Break), so I'm excited about going back when we can take more in.

The museum has a few different parts. So far, I think it's the "dinosaur part" and the "non-dinosaur part". No really, it's actually a lot more than that. They have quite a collection of exhibits featuring other animals, both extinct and not. 

Then there's also a more cultural aspect, which I LOVE. Annie also seemed to be really interested in these societies from yesteryear. 

Seminole women were given a string of beads at an early age and additional strings would be added from time to time until she was wearing several pounds and they coiled almost up to her ears. She would feel "immodestly dressed" without them.

ETA: We went again today (after I typed most of this post) and had so much fun!

Not the best picture because it was so dark, but I feel like I always share Annie's perception of things like this and I wanted to share Graves's. The animal in the lower left is called a fisher, but Graves kept calling him a "swimmer". He said "that swimmer not get the porcupine- he swat him with his tail prickles" after I read to him on a sign that that could happen. Then he said "Wait! The porcupine put on his cage (when pressed he clarified by saying "like a super hero"- so, cape) and fly down and get the swimmer." Then he said that the swimmer "protects" birds. Well, no, but props for sitting still and telling back to me a little of what I told you. And also for being excited about learning. 

 Railroad Museum of Long Island

This is the only one on the list we didn't get a membership to (ha!). It's really sort of an elaborate trip (you ride the LIRR (Long Island Rail Road), which is part of the MTA, but is an actual commuter train instead of like the subway trains). But also, the museum is comparatively small. It actually might be my favorite of the four, just because I found it so fascinating from a historical perspective, but it's not a place you'd revisit on the regular. Unless you were just really obsessed with trains. 

Here we are on the way home. The kids didn't need to be in their carseats, it just worked out to be super practical to use them to restrain Graves ;) We had them anyway because we were riding in our friend's car once we got to Long Island. But this gives you a feel of what the trains are like. They're really nice and it was a fun adventure just to ride on them!

The museum is set up in a neat way. There are two buildings and both have really nice, elaborate toy train set ups. Like really, really impressive. 

In one of the buildings the trains are on an elevated table sort of thing and there are tons of little buttons on the sides you can push to make things happen (windmills spin, horns blow, lights go on and off in tiny stations, and lumber can even be loaded into a freight car). 

Annie has by far been the main one to enjoy and appreciate a lot of things in the city (as one can expect), so it was wonderful for me to watch Graves experience something that really intrigued him and brought him a lot of joy. 

In addition to the two buildings, there's also an outside part where real (antique? vintage? I don't know what you call an old ass train) trains are displayed for your to tour inside. 

This is the inside of a Bay Window Caboose from the 1960s. There were signs all inside of it describing its features and the "crew" that worked inside it. 

I loved it and thought it was so fascinating to learn about. 

We also got to ride on this little guy, who made his debut at the world's fair some half century ago. 

Finally, we had a guided tour of some of the old coaches that were part of the Long Island Railroad system. 

This one is from the 1950s and was operational until fairly recently! 

So, those have been our adventures so far, museum wise. We've had such a great time exploring and taking advantage of just a few of the things this wonderful city offers! Next up, I'm going to share the parks and playgrounds we've visited. 

Ordinary Days and Adventure Days

I've been wanting to share more of our stories over here on this blog. I'm keeping up with my Weekly Happenings on my main blog, but I want to really write about some of our experiences here. Anyway, last week I actually went to a writer's group at the library and I just wrote for an hour. It was hard and it's NOT my best writing- I was scared at first I'd just leave with blank pages- but it seems to work for an introductory post and a recap of one of my favorite days.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Peyton works thirteen hour shifts here. For myself and the kids these are our "school days". We practice basic math, study things that interest Annie, and read book after book. We've only just begun this part, but now Annie is learning how sounds fit together to form words. One day she'll read the books for herself. And I'll get to take the credit for that achievement. I'll only claim it victory, though, if what I also teach her is a love for learning, an appreciation of words. 

A man on the train struck up a conversation with me the other day- asked me "what I did". I told him that I stay at home with my children, that I'm homeschooling my eldest. He looked confused and replied how boring that must be. First I hard laughed and told him that it is anything but. Then I told him that sometimes it does feel like a job, but I adore it. "A job you don't get paid for", he retorted with a funny smile. "Oh, of course not. But the reward comes in full when she makes a connections and something clicks. And I know I was the one who helped her get to that place. There's no feeling in the world like that one, I tell him. 

So those are our home days. They're spent teaching her and guiding and nurturing and loving her and her little brother. They're spent meeting the basic needs still very young children have. They are beautiful, but they are somewhat ordinary in a peaceful sort of way. Which is a good thing. Because the days that Peyton doesn't go to work are our "adventure days". 

On those days, we skip naps, pack lunches, and embark to discover a city we could never conquer. There are too many nooks, too many cobbled streets and green patches and spires and treasures, to ever say "we are finished". 

But our time here is limited. We do know we won't be here forever. Our goal can't be to do/see/feel/hear all of New York City. But it weights heavy on my heart the responsibility to make much of our time here. 

I wish I could say we rise with the rooster (such a silly idiom in a city that never sleeps). We just aren't that kind of people, though. So, we get up, shuffle around and Peyton usually makes pancakes. We get going mid-morning most days. 

The other day we took a family adventure to "the island". Such fun to spend the day in a bustling metropolis, but I never get on the G train on a return trip without a little silent thanksgiving for the wisdom in choosing Brooklyn. I breathe better here. It's miles away, literally and figuratively, from the suburbs in the 'Sip. But there's a hint of normalcy and a hint of home. 

All that said, our day in the city was one of our best adventures yet. We took the subway of course and Peyton insisted I navigate so I could familiarize myself with it. So many colorful lines covering the boroughs. It's kind overwhelming for a chick who is more used to Kudzo as a covering. But we made it! In one station (Penn maybe?) there were some beautiful tile mosaics that intrigued Annie. We talked about each one- a circus scene and a woman with a baby carriage were favorites. 

The weather was perfect and so was our stroll through Central Park. There was a fabulous little musical group and the children danced together to "My Girl". It's a forever memory in my mind (and being the millenial mom I am, it's a forever iPhone video clip, too). 

We snacked on treats from home and explored the castle in the park, which has been on Annie's "must-do" list, I think since she fully understood the concept of moving up here. 

We ate pretzels and hotdogs on the steps of the Met and I felt more like a tourist than a local, which is mostly the case. Obviously, I waver between these poles every day, but every day- every single day!- it feels more like home. 

We signed up for a membership and headed to the library inside the museum. Graves, who for some reason I haven't made mention of yet, surprised us quite a bit. He is the sweetest, most affectionate, most even tempered little soul there ever was, but he offsets all that a bit by just not having much self-control at all. I think a lot of that has to do with being a two year old boy. But he sat still and listed to multiple books and wasn't disruptive in the slightest. 

We actually only toured one gallery- one filled with musical instruments from foreign lands and centuries past. 

Graves latched onto a keyboard type instrument in the shape of a dragon. Every time I'd try to move away, he'd fuss and fret. He's so awfully inattentive (again, being two and all) and I was so pleased to see him captivated by something. 

Annie absorbs information like a sponge and regurgitates it like a cow. I don't think she's a prodigy or anything, but I do think she's a bright child. More importantly, I think she eagerly hungers for knowledge. May she always desire it so!

Peyton discussed each instrument with her and they analyzed and figured out its classification. Towards the end I saw a kettle drum with two little figures holding it and one was writing a book and one was nursing an infant. 

I intentionally picked Annie up and told her "I love this one because it makes me think of two things that are very important to me- writing my thoughts and feelings and taking care of my babies". When I said "taking care of my babies" she flung her arms around me and squeezed my neck so tight. It was a stand out moment in a busy day that I'll always treasure. 

That night they fell asleep quickly, as they almost always do on our adventure days and I couldn't stop thinking about how many treasures we've already found here and how many more are awaiting our discovery of them. 

Adventures in Being Uncomfortable

Peyton and I found out about, and felt this huge tug, toward a ministry in the South Bronx. By many standards, it's the most impoverished area in the United States and I've got to be real here- I was terrified. Mostly for my children's safety, because I've heard it described as " a third world country", a war zone", and worse. We went for the first time yesterday and y'all. It was amazing. It reminded me so much of MDO days- something I've longed for since the day I quit. But different, because mommas weren't doing much needed grocery shopping or going to doctor's appointments sans little ones; they were in a nearby room attending a parenting class on positive discipline. One little boy spent a good chunk of the time in my lap. He was missing his momma so bad. Peyton kept trying to distract him and at first I did, too. But then I started just pulling him closer and promising him over and over again that his momma would be back for him. I'm wary of telling other people's stories, but I found out later that he's had some major disruptions in his tiny life. I knew my words had been perfect for him. I'm serious when I say I've never really had a moment like that. I just felt the Spirit moving in such a powerful way. I would have been more than content to never leave my vanilla life of suburbia in the 'sip, even for a temporary adventure. I'm so thankful God gave me someone who never could be. And I'm so proud of him when I saw the way the little boys gravitated toward him when they saw a man in the room and then stuck like glue to him while he read stories and played with animal figures. Maybe the best day yet! Peyton, thank you for forcing us into hard places, powerful cities, and forgotten neighborhoods. So glad to be living your our dream together.