Saturday Mornings with Mila
Probably since the beginning, Mila and I have enjoyed some quality “alone time” each week. Before she began school, Wednesday afternoons were usually ours. As we prepared to leave for our adventure, I would offer some ideas on what to do – usually an outdoor activity of some nature – and Mila would offer some ideas. However the final decision would always be hers.
Mila can come up with some pretty creative options. We once spent the afternoon at the airport. We hopped on a Max filled with people carrying luggage and headed to PDX. We tried out the massage chairs at Brookstone, we had hot chocolate at Coffee People, we browsed, we watched planes, we watched people, we checked out the play area by the security area in front of Gates D and E, we met families from other places. It was a fun and memorable afternoon.
Now that Mila is in school, we have shifted our alone time to the weekend. On school days, Mila is awake before 7 am and on weekends…well, she is awake before 7 am. I am sure that someday she will want to sleep-in on weekends but in the meantime, she and I get up before dawn on Saturdays and head-out for breakfast together. Luckily, the Courtyard Restaurant at the Kennedy School and Violet’s Cafe start serving at 7 am on Saturdays, so we usually end up at one place or the other.
It is a comfortable and leisurely affair. We chat, we order, we eat, we visit, we observe. Our breakfast can stretch out to a couple of hours, sometimes we add a little side trip on the way home.
I have to say that I really look forward to these little breakfast dates with my daughter. We have special times as a family but it is nice having some special time alone as well. Now that Gael is getting older, he and I have begun going on some solo adventures together; I am looking forward to more.
Of course, the sentimental side of me hopes that the kids will look back fondly on these outings with “the old man”, I know I will – I already do.
Photo: Mila sipping tea at the Boatshed Cafe in Rawene, New Zealand
