Friday, September 19, 2008

NYC

My trip to New York was fabulous. I needed the away time more than I realised. One evening I was meeting a friend at 10pm and I had some time to kill. I went for a walk down 7th Ave in Brooklyn. I basked in the busyness of it all while I just wandered. My best thinking time is always done in a cafe or city setting. I know. It is strange. Still, the decompression was tangible as I stopped into little shops still open and leisurely purchased flowers from a corner market. Don't you love how there are flowers being sold everywhere in New York? I found a french bakery and found the smells so alluring, I was seduced into procuring a small slice of chocolate cake. I almost tried to order in French, as the baker hardly spoke any English, but I could feel the inevitable humiliation, so I thought better of it.

As I walked, I thought, as I have thought many times before, that the city life is the one I am most suited for. I am an adult person. Obviously I am an adult, but I mean that I like adult things. I like quiet dinners and grown up conversations. I like business
meetings and conference calls. I like wearing tailored clothes and carrying small purses.

Being a mother rarely entails any of these things. Strange that even so, I totally love what I do everyday -(most days). I love it because I love my daughter so much and because I know that what I am doing is so important. I love watching her grow and getting to be part of it. Rocking after she has woken in the night - holding her close to me - that is some of the most concentrated joy I have ever felt. However if someone told me that I had to go back to work...and my career would be working as a nanny or at a Day Care facility....shoot me now.

This whole stay-at-home thing may not be quite "my style" but I don't think that makes me any less of a mother. (In fact, I think that I am doing a pretty bang up job of it.) I just have to be extra focused on the balancing act of life. I have to make sure that the non-mommy parts of me have a proper outlet so that I can enjoy fully the mommy time. This is crucial to me since the mommy time is 90% of my life. I want to revel in the precious gift of having a child, not resent the enormity of its impact. This trip was the largest helping of non-mommy time I have had since Lydia was born. It was total bliss - but I missed my family and I was ready to come home. (I could not stop hugging and kissing Lydia when I arrived home. Is it just me or did she get even more adorable while I was gone?!?)

Some of my favorite moments from the visit were part of the cutest birthday gift from my sister in law, Sara. She sent me this beautifully wrapped gift entailing some of the fun outings she would treat me to while I was visiting the big apple. Such a great idea! Check them out:


Picnic in the Park
(The goat cheese was so good, I think I literally cried.)

Massage and Pedicures


Gourmet Hot Chocolate under the Brooklyn Bridge



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And just to make sure this is the LONGEST post I have ever made...even more fun times....

Meeting my new niece Lucca -

Shopping-

(The I Love NY winner scored!)




Seeing Diane, my best friend from when I went to school in Jerusalem.


(I had not seen her in 10 years.)

And of course, the best part of visiting NYC is seeing crazy things that I personally just can't understand....

Have a great weekend. I'm out....

14 comments:

April said...

I am almost completely opposite from you...well for a couple years I thought my life was so unfair and I wanted nothing more than to work and socialize- but it has changed now and I actually find much joy being home all day...although I still want to run for public office one day.

and I hate the city...with a passion...maybe one day or so I can hit some stores, fruit stands, markets- but other than that I have no desire to be where there are a ton of people, cramped feeling, money feeling...Chay's brother and wife just traveled to NYC for a vacation and it was so confusing to me why anyone would want to go to the city for a vacation...

oh and what I was going to originally say is- the best mom's are the ones who are true to themselves and honest- so no matter what kind of mom you think you are- Lydia will get it. She knows she is loved.

Anonymous said...

I just typed then deleted three different versions of a comment in response to April. Yes, the city life is not for everyone, but if you ever have the chance to visit this place with someone who lives here, you will be lucky enough to experience a million quaint, charming, peaceful, friendly moments that you can't find anywhere else. This is my home and I love it. And, Natalie, it was a thousand times better with you here! We miss you and love you and absolutely must live closer to each other. xoxo.

Are You Serious! said...

♥ What a fun trip! You're so brave walking around Brooklyn all alone. I'm sure it's growing up in a tiny town but I'm sure I'd be too chicken! :)

Natalie Jane said...

April - I think my blog said that I do find joy in being home. That was the point. It just isn't "my style".

LOLiTA said...

I'm glad you had a great trip. I love the city life. Maybe it's because I grew up there, and still have all of my family there. :) I love it. Always stuff to do: Baseball games, broadway plays, botanical gardens, the zoo, shopping, the food....

I feel homesick. I think I'll go call my Mom.

April said...

I never said you didn't find joy in being a mom did I? I'm pretty sure you do- who wouldn't be with a girl like Lydia- despite her earlier years...and Emily and I were just talking about how good of a mother you are with your "Lydia days" and such-

I was just saying we are complete opposite in loving city life- and for some odd reason I threw in how hard it was for me to be a stay at home mom at first- nothing pointed to you- I think I was just typing too fast or something and nothing what I said meshed well-

Jen R. said...

I'm still new here so I probably missed this, but why is your face on the posters? That is you right?

Natalie Jane said...

I am kind-of famous in Europe and apparently the US is getting in on the Natalie action.


that or I just thought adding my face would be funny. take your pick.

Di said...

natalie! i have not seen that picture of us in soooo long. so funny. and so long ago. makes me kinda sad how fast time goes by. i'm so flattered i made the blog cut. xoxo. me and nyc miss you.

SuperCoolMom said...

I'm like you in that I am thrilled to have some me-time away from my kids and revel in every moment, but when I see them again I'm amazed at how completely I adore them! Sounds like a fabulous, refreshing trip!

susan said...

Natalie! You just went to NYC! So did I. I just got back late last night. I went by myself to see one of my best friends from like 6th grade. It was kind of like a pre-baby trip for myself (due Oct 28th). She's single and has lived there for 9 years. Were we there at the same time? Email me.

I really related to your post. I wish I could get my friend from NYC to read it. She doesn't want to have kids since she has lived the NYC life. I was trying to tell her that it will be different when you have your own. Nothing like babysitting.
Susan Biery

Unknown said...

I'm so happy for you again! New York looks good one you or maybe you just look good in New York. I look forward to more adventures of Natalie's travels.

Unknown said...

Glad you had a great time! School in Jerusalem? Really interesting. What kind?

Natalie Jane said...

I added a link to my school in Israel. I was there for a semester my sophmore year.

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