Law, Partially

We expected this trip to the Netherlands to be special, and it was. Our first family trip to the Netherlands, almost two years ago, opened our eyes to the joys and practicalities of family travel with small children. On this trip, I learned yet even more about the joys and practicalities of travelling with children -- this time, doing it without Mummy's help, while she stayed in London to study. I had no expectations for this trip except to have fun. Like diners at an authentic sushi restaurant putting their experience in the chef's hands ( omekase ), so we were all putting ourselves into Gugu's hands, she being the veteran Dutch traveler. Along for the trip with Bob, Gugu, and me were Uncle Kevin, Lincoln (on his first European trip), and Nainai. The itinerary would include Delft, Rotterdam, flowers, and Amsterdam. At the table in our Delft apartment, a little Dutch boy waits for his family to wake up. The street and canal out the window is Hippolytusbuurt, one of ...

Celebrating the start of fall and the big boy's birthday falling just after, we decamped from north London for British places even further north. Nainai flew in from Cedar Rapids to adventure with the FD Linges. Months earlier, Christine and I had planned a route, booked a car, homestay lodgings, lunches and early dinners at restaurants, and seats on a scenic train route. We booked with Nainai's discerning consumer preferences in mind. We hoped to make this her best trip ever. We planned to chase down her ancestors in Nottinghamshire and Beatrix Potter in the Lake District; she also had Scotland on her list of places to visit, so grant that wish we did. Although she lives far away (at least 13 hours by plane, plus train (i.e., Piccadilly Line)), Nainai is an important part of Bobby's development. Bobby often talks to her over video chat, and Mum and I often put our child development questions to her. Usually we just need reassurance that his seemingly illogical behavior i...

As Bob was just beginning his thirteenth month, he, along with Mum and Dad, took his thirteenth flight. Long flights in coach, especially on a U.S. airline, are getting worse and worse, and bringing a baby aboard does not make them better. While not all of the flights were pleasant, recalling the flights and travels from his first year give his parents markers by which to measure our progress: Bobby's in growing up and his parents' in learning to parent. Bobby, it seems, was destined to be a flyer. Mum and Dad took several international trips in 2016 expecting that we'd take less once the baby came. That expectation (perhaps like many of our expectations of parenting?) of course ended up being wrong. We realized Christine was pregnant while in Singapore in January, then we headed to Taipei and Seoul; in April we went to Korea (again) and Paris for the French Open; in June we visited Door County, Wisconsin, and in July Washington DC. Bobby, here you are in Paris....