Going on a trip

Some kids play with trucks or dolls. They may play dress-up or with spiderman. My kids? They play "going on a trip." Regularly, since Alex could walk at a wee 9 months of age, the boys will stuff backpacks and head out on an adventure. Of course, back then Alex had no idea what he was doing, really. But, he knew Max was doing it and seemed to enjoy it and so he wanted to be doing that, too. Now that Alex cannot only communicate, but has opinions, the game has gotten more interesting. Sometimes there are disagreements about where they are going to go on their trip. Once they have packed their bags and are boarding the plane (i.e., the couch) Max always asks Alex where he wants to go. Well, apparently this was just a courtesy question because Max has a destination in mind and unless you give the right answer, you won't actually get to board the plane. So today, the boys took parallel planes---Max to Africa to see lions and Alex back to Australia to see the "bah-bee ROOS." Interestingly, these planes flew in tandem so that the boys could share snacks through the windows. Convenient since Max had the cashews and Alex had the water!

Back in NC they used to pack their bags and go into the backyard for adventures. Sometimes they would go look for interesting bugs, other times they would go to rescue animals in the wilderness, and still other times they would come running back to me with flowers they got in Rome. I savour this game. Just watching them. I love the sense of adventure that shows on their face. And the creativity that emerges from their conversations (which used to be Max's monolouges but have become increasingly peppered with Alex now, too). Most of all, I love that they want to go and discover things together. I hope they remember this game and make it into a reality when they are older. I would love for the boys to travel together during college summers to swim the barrier reef or hike across the Andes. Maybe they would even take me with them.