Alphabet Soup: Cottage 2014

Two weeks after Edward and The Ducklings left for the cottage, Malcolm, my parents and I packed up and drove east. We did the drive over two days, and it was as painless as one could hope, even with the seemingly endless rain and road. We arrived to warmth and sun in Shediac. I wish I could say the weather stayed that way for the next 10 days, but as Murphy's Law dictates, that only happened two days before we left. However, that still allowed us time to fit in a delicious lobster dinner!

All four kids and I travelled home on Monday - Edward and my parents left by car the day before. I had members of the crew comment on how "brave" (not quite the word I'd use... but much more flattering) I was to attempt solo airplane travel with all of them, but I figured I could deal with such a short flight. It started off pretty well, thanks largely to Edward's mother, Ann (aka Grammy) who made a picnic lunch for us to eat in the airport departure lounge, and accompanied us right to the gate. The rest of the flight was a little more challenging - trying to help a kid pee in a tiny airplane bathroom whilst holding a heavy, wriggly baby took some creativity - but I know we did okay when the elderly ladies in front of us complimented The Ducklings on their behaviour.

The Ducklings came home a little more wild, a little more tanned and a lot happier. They get to free-range, there. Marshmellows roasted over a bonfire waaay past bedtime, trikes on the tennis court, shell collecting on the beach, sleeping in, dinner on the lawn, running in the waves. Every bit of it essential to who they are, and to who they will become. To have a retreat like this is good for the soul, and we are grateful they have the opportunity to experience it.

Sometimes, in the depths of winter as we rush them into snowsuits, push them through their days and layer on the "if you don'ts", "come heres", "go theres" and "do thises", there is a definite peace of mind knowing an antidote exists. I've promised them that on days like those, we'll take out paper and a pen and list all of the things we'll do next summer at The Shore.