Proud Mama

Yesterday Jacqueline had a 1/2 day of school so she got home just about 12:30. I'd arranged for us to go to a local house museum, the Hill-Stead in Farmington, CT. I'd read little snippets about them having an impressive private collection of works and it seemed like something good to do on 1/2 day. When I got there I got really anxious. I swore that the the ladies inside the house were saying 'tut tut" about me and my 2 year old in tow. Even a 6 year old could be a nightmare in a home filled with valuable artifacts. The home is seen by tour and 2 women were waiting alongside us. I worried about us disturbing a peaceful museum visit for other guests, and then I decided that if it wasn't working out, we'd just gracefully depart. Well, "gracefully" may have been ambitious if it came down to it.

Once on the tour, the guide took the time to engage Jacqueline and I carried Bailey knowing that his curiosity would be off the charts. So we made it through all 17 beautifully maintained rooms. We saw a Matisse etching that I pointed out as Jacqueline is studying his work in Art class. They had Monet Haystack paintings, they had Degas Jockeys and Dancers, Whistlers, Ming dynasty ceramics… It was an amazing collection. And, the daughter of the home owners, Theadite Pope was the first woman architect licensed in NY (6th in CT). She was an interesting character from what we learned. Jacqueline asked the guide questions. Bailey stayed with me, in my arms, looked around, listened as I pointed to the bronze of a jaguar or an elephant, loved the stuffed parrot named Alfred. I was pleased to see a Monet painting that preceded his impressionist days and it looked more like a Whistler painting.

At the end of the tour, the guide and other ladies remarked at how the kids did so well. I thanked them and added that I'd hoped we hadn't detracted from their visit. They quickly replied no. They shared my belief that you should expose your kids to such things so that they are exposed not just to the history and art but also taught how to behave in certain settings. "You never know", one visitor remarked,"One of them could end up being an artist one day."

Of course, I had bribed the kids with a "treat" for good behavior. After we checked out the garden and gazebo, we went to Ben & Jerry's. But really, they were so good and I was so glad to have taken them and enjoyed that little treat or fine art for myself.

After our ice-creams another Mom completely lost her cool with her son. Apparently he ws misbehaving in the parking lot. Certainly not a joking matter, but she proceeded to threaten to lock the kid in the car while she and her daughter got ice-creams. YIKES. Mine was a far better day with the kids.