How Did That Happen?

This evening, the girls and I went to Old Montreal via Metro with my mother to see Cirque du Soleil's Ovo. We had a great time- the show was fabulous (is Cirque ever NOT?) and I enjoyed watching the girls' reactions. Carly (who is almost 6) spent the whole time trying to identify which bugs were which (the show is full of them!) and trying to decipher the 'story'- when you are five, there is always a story! Jamie was most impressed with the physical abilities of the performers. She definitely has some perspective on how much work has to go into such amazing performances- her own ballet training has taught her how much time it takes to get good at something, never mind to be 'the best', as surely a lot of Cirque performers are.

I realized, though, when we got on the Metro, just how sheltered our kids are. Jamie has travelled pretty regularly by public transport to and from various ballet shows, but Carly..now that's another story. She looked like a rube in the big city from the farm for the night. Once we got to Old Montreal, both girls were fascinated with the buildings, the buskers, the crowds, the sounds. They had a million questions which my mum and I answered...and I felt intense guilt (SHOCKER! A mother feeling guilty?) that they had never before been to this fabulous part of our own city. NEVER. We live about 30 minutes away, always have, and we have never taken our kids to the Vieux Port.

Granted, we had 4 children in 6 years, which means I was heavily pregnant or nursing a fussy newborn for many many months. Combine that with the fact that we are generally quite rigid with nap and sleep routines; combine THAT with the fact that we have incredibly busy lives on the West Island; it just hasn't happened. I am a bit shocked by this myself, to be honest. We have done tons of stuff with our kids. They have been exposed to much culture, sport, recreation, plain dumb fun...just never in the Old Port.

I am making a promise that this summer I will play tourist in my own city with my kids. I told the girls tonight; one afternoon we will put Ryan down for an eary nap and at 3pm we'll come downtown to the Old Port and have supper, see the sights, enjoy the crowds, get an ice cream...we will live it!