Ruining our kids' lives, one weekend at a time

On returning from our year of traveling in 2019, I vividly remember a friend saying to me that we had not only ruined our own lives, but also those of our kids.  His theory was that never again would we have such great experiences and so everything that followed would be a bit of an anti-climax.

Fast forward 3 years and we find ourselves living in Washington DC and have just spent the weekend in Manhattan.

Now, I certainly hope that our kids have some wonderful experiences as they grow up, but as weekends go, for a 13, a 12 and a 9 year old, it will be pretty tough to top:

• New York City Opera performing La Traviata in Bryant Park
• Grand Central Station
• Staten Island Ferry
• Statue of Liberty
• Twin Towers Memorial
• Times Square
• Wall Street
• walking across the Brooklyn Bridge
• pizza at Grimaldi's (under the Brooklyn Bridge)
• the cable car to Rosevelt Island for nighttime views of Manhattan
• Chinatown
• Little Italy
• The High Line
• Soho
• Strawberry Fields
• Hip Hop concert in Central Park
• rooftop drinks on 5th Avenue with views of the Empire State Building

Rule No2 in America - It's All in the Name

I had lived in Israel for almost 20 years.

I've been called 'Daran', 'Doron', 'Deren', 'Darn', 'Dareen' and 'Achi'.

My surname has been bastardised into 'Gladstein' "Goldstone' 'Galdstone', 'Gallstone', 'Galdestone' amongst others.

So it's absolutely delightful to have arrived in a country where I am refered to as Mr Gladstone by one and all.

Marlon at the bank, "Hello Mr Gladstone, how can we help you today?"

Renata at the Electric Company, "Mr Gladstone, that's your account all set up now, is there anything else I can help you with?"

Wendy in the office where we live, "Mr Gladstone, if you need anything at all, please just pop in and we'll help you out."

They might not have a clue how to organize a swimming pool full of kids, but you certainly can't fault Americans for politeness and their ability to pronounce a name correctly.

The No 1 Rule when Moving to America

So apparently the Yanks are big on rules.

3 days into our relocation to DC and I'm beginning to understand how they prioritze things.

Buying a gun - no rules, knock yourself out, it's all just a bit of fun.

Abortion - plenty of rules, heaven forbid anyone should be allowed free choice and individual freedoms.

Going to the swimming pool in our complex - more rules than the English language.  Every hour, for 15 mins, all children must leave the pool so that the adults can swim in peace.  Even if there are no adults at the pool.  Because it is 2pm and all the adults are at work.  And the only people at the pool are kids (and me).

So even when the the pool is half full of kids, they must all leave the pool, sit on the side and watch an empty pool for 15 mins. Empty because all the adults are at work, if that wasn't obvious by now!

If there are any adults out there, who fancy a quiet swim, I can certainly recommend the Rollins Park Swimming Pool, every day, every hour, from quarter to the hour, for 15 mins.  

Empty swimming pools - it's the No 1 rule in the US of A.