This is the last Wednesday of relative peace for the school year, barring the vacations. Although Juliet has dance and solfège, and Gabriel has solfège, chorale and soccer, and William has multi-sports, I do not have to teach English today, and William, therefore, does not have to go to Centre for the morning. So there are two less things to rush to.
It was unexpectedly beautiful out.
And this one loses no opportunity to beg for a walk.
So I brought my two youngest: William and Hunter.
After all, this will be the last Wednesday William will have to accompany me, and the last one in which I will have time to take Hunter.
We have our rubber boots, because recent heavy rains mean large puddles.
And we make our way to the river bank.
There, William does what kids do best. He shows me things.
He shows me the purple of the butterfly bush.
The black
and the red of the berries.
He bends down to smell the weeds. “It’s like honey, Maman!”
He points out the snails
and the large white flowers against the blue sky, which I have never noticed.
Hunter spots another dog. Friend or foe? He lifts his head in the air, sniffing, his ears raised and his right paw lifted up.
Friend! he decides. Then he jumps up on all fours, like Tigger, before racing to meet the other dog. William laughs as he watches Hunter play.
And he laughs again when another dog comes along who seems a lot less like a friend.
Mommy, look at me! he says. “Regardes moi!”
And when I make this face?
“Is Hunter in Grande Section?” he asks. (Senior Kindergarten)
‘No, honey, he’s in Petite,” I reassure him. (only Junior Kindergarten)
We watch the sun reflect off the water.
The river Seine winds through Paris and beyond.
Boats occasionally speed by.
And its banks have seen many centuries.
Swans swim quietly, sometimes taking flight majestically.
There is peace to be had here, as I walk my dog along the Seine.
Even more so when it’s shared with my youngest son.
“I love you Maman,” he says, his tongue experimenting with the unfamiliar English. “I love you him too, Hunter,” he adds.
Lovely post, Jennie. You had me there right there with you. William is adorable!
Andrea recently posted…Blog Roll, Part 1: Most Artistic and Class Clowns
Oh thank you. He is so unlike Matthieu and I (in character and looks), we almost don’t know where he comes from. (Apparently he’s the spitting image of my uncle when he was little). But hey – we’ll take the cuteness any way we can get it.
Beautiful. Looks much more pleasant than the commute to the YMCA in South Milwaukee in a minute. Thank you for the lovely images.
Korinthia Klein recently posted…Young Enough, Old Enough
I was careful to show the non-graffitti images though. Selective photography. 😉
so very, very tranquil. This post put me at ease. xo.
sarah reinhart recently posted…No phone call necessary
Sometimes a flowing river is just what we need for peace of mind!
You gave me peace today
Thank you Carina. 🙂
The berries look so juicy. What kind are the red? And if that’s not a cute boy, I don’t know who is. I just want to stroll with you.
Arnebya recently posted…What I’ve Decided About This Blog
The berries are apparently not poisonous to dogs. I was worried there. But you’ll do better to eat the berries in my own garden. (Whenever you get here). 😉
Danka lovely Kerstin.
So peaceful and lovely. I could almost hear the river. Nothing like a stroll, is there?
So sweet. Nora read this with me and had a comment for Every. Single. Picture. 🙂
Keely recently posted…Organizing My Kids’ Closet Out Of Necessity (And Not OCD).
Beautiful. All of it. Your day, the pictures, your sweet boy.
Laura at Mommy Miracles recently posted…Starting Daycare
What a beautiful moment well captured!!
Thank you Jennie for bringing us there with you…
I felt the essence of France… The one I often repress… So you brought tears to my eyes… But they are secret and precious tears, also healing…
Those little moments are so very often the best ones of all.
Jennifer recently posted…Back to School Bliss
I adore this post. I am currently teaching 12th grade English which is Brit Lit…and that is as close to France as I will ever get. That and this blog with the beautiful Seine. You live in the history I long to witness.
Katie Sluiter recently posted…Daily Writing Manifesto
Jennie, my walks look nothing like that. How absolutely wonderful. Serene, yet energizing. Beautiful.
Angie Kinghorn recently posted…September
Cher petit prince!
You sound much happier and I’m glad to hear it.
Carole recently posted…Travel Scan: House in Transylvania
Thank you for taking us on this walk with you, my friend.
Alison recently posted…Coffee Buddy
I love those rare moments where we can slow down enough to focus on each other and the world around us. Those times are too few. Thank you for sharing!!
Oh steal my heart. What a beautiful boy to guide you through life..making you notice all the things you’ve over looked. That’s why our children are so special xo
Kimberly recently posted…Golf Balls And Man Colds
Looks so lovely! One of those days that makes life so beautiful. 🙂
There is something so … soothing about a river. I love it when those peacefull days happen.
Tinne from Tantrums and Tomatoes recently posted…A post full of minor events
Hi Jennie,
I loved this post! What a beautiful place to walk with your handsome little son. These are the days to treasure. You captured it all wonderfully in word and in pictures, too! I didn’t realize that you lived near the Seine River. Thanks for sharing!
Lush and lovely. I loved him it.
I wish I could find peace like a river today. Wow, you make me envy you, that a walk like could be in easy reach of your home and that you can take such amazing, inspiring pictures of it.
And I’m jealous that your dog behaves himself around other canines. Mine does not. A Yorkie mix, he does acrobatics on his back legs, ears high, and tries to attack anything that moves or smells or makes noise – oh, brother!
Hillary recently posted…Death in the family
But he probably doesn’t roll in poop? Or eat it? (shudder). Dogs are such beasts! 😉
There’s a lot of peace and serenity to be found in the small moments. What a beautiful walk!!
anymommy recently posted…Something right
Such Peace. Such Beauty. Thank you for bringing your readers on this walk w/ you.
Cute kids! LOVE that snail 🙂 Xxx
My Inner Chick recently posted…The Poem I Read At Your Funeral
Such a nice post to follow the previous one! I am cheering you on. I amcqtching up with your blog on my new tablet from the wilds of eastern oregon, showing Maya where we used to live. Okay, we are showing her off a little too. 🙂 It’s nice to read your posts and look at the lovely pictures.
Of COURSE you need to show Maya off. I’m sure everyone has been waiting to ooh and aah (I would be).