Filed under: Around Town | Tags: Boston, Boston Children's Museum, Gemma, Riley
Gemma playing checkers (left) and working hard in the construction room (right)
Riley drives the bus (left) and plays with bubbles (right)
My girls entering the climbing structure (left) and chasing their shadows (right)
In reflecting upon motherhood this week, I’ve come up with some advice for Gemma and Riley.
As anyone with a toddler knows, they are filled with what seems like a boundless amount of energy. My twins are 2 and 1/2 years old and we live in a 2 bedroom condo so it is vital that we get Riley and Gemma outdoors as much as possible.
On this particular afternoon, it was a bit chilly but we could feel spring in the air. After winter in Boston even a little bit of sunshine can feel like a lot. Dave and I decided to take the girls to one of our favorite Boston spots, Castle Island in South Boston.
The island is home to Fort Independence, a former military structure. During the summer months the fort is open to the public for exploration and adventure. A little fun fact: Castle Island is no longer an island and is actually connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of land. This makes it easy to get to and there is a ton of parking.
A large playground is also situated on the island and if you’re hungry you can grab a bite at the crowd favorite, Sullivan’s (aka Sully’s) – a little greasy spoon joint that serves great fries. There is also a beach area, plenty of room for bike riders, fishing off of the pier, and fantastic airplane watching (Castle Island is located near Logan Airport).
We love taking advantage of Boston and all that it has to offer. It’s nice to know that we don’t have to travel far to make great memories for the girls.
What do you love about your hometown?
My family took a lovely family vacation to Sanibel Island last week. Sanibel Island is located in southwest Florida, off of the coast of the Gulf of Mexico because of the island’s location, the ocean water is calm, warm, and ideal for swimming. The beaches are made of soft sand and brimming with sea shells. The term “Sanibel Stoop” was invented to describe seekers hunched over, looking for the perfect shell.
Our family owns a condo at the Sundial Beach Resort. It is extremely family friendly with four swimming pools, child dining options, organized children’s activities, and an eco-center which houses a small selection of marine life. The best part is the resort is located on the beach, so there is easy access to the sand and sea.
We met my parents, Lou and Rudy, at the Fort Myers airport, and made the quick 25 minute drive to the island. My parents started taking me and my younger brother to Sanibel when I was 5 years old, so it was surreal to now bring my own children at age 2 and 1/2 years. My parents are known as Lolo (grandfather) and Lola (grandmother). These are Filipino terms. It was particularly important for the girls to spend time with Lolo as he suffered several strokes over a year ago; the presence of the girls is very theraputic for him. The girls are very compassionate toward my Dad, helping to push his wheelchair or assisting with handing him his medication.
Both girls enjoyed the beach and the pool, although I think there was slightly more draw to the pool with its water slide and abundance of other kids.
Finally, the girls got a lot of experience eating at restaurants. My feeling is that the more they practice, the more comfortable they will become with the process. This was also an opportunity for them to try new things, like grouper fish sandwiches, grilled shrimp, lemonade, and key lime pie.
The vacation was great fun; although my husband and I were pretty beat when we made it back to Boston. Most importantly we got to spend time together as a family. Running not one, but two businesses can be hectic. It was nice to slow down for a bit.
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