The Flow - by Liimu

On Tuesday, I was very proud of myself for remembering to post my blog, and it was all about what I have learned from being in Italy about being in the Flow of life, as opposed to my very To Do List heavy life I live back in the States.

Of course, then I found out that my blog post day is Thursday and so only those of you who happened to be up and reading Motherhood Later at 4 am on Tuesday morning got to read it.

I wasn't going to post today, because we are now rushing around in the throes of pre-boarding mania - packing, showering, checking under the bed for the iPod charger, trying to make it to one last free breakfast buffet, etc.

But I thought it was fitting that rather than waxing poetic on how wonderful my life will be now that I can bring home the spirit of Italia and living in the flow all the time, I can actually see that there is a time and a place for both being in flow and living within structured guidelines.

Last night, on my husband's birthday, we walked for about nine hours looking for the perfect place for us to have dinner and celebrate our last night in Italy and my husband's birthday. We had several people recommend places in a fairly far-off region called Trastevere. Though we had enjoyed the most wonderful meal of our lives just the night before at a restaurant called Osteria Della Vite, on a tiny side street by the same name, we made the trek across the bridge to try to find the restaurant. As we walked into the town, we were both just not feeling the vibe at all and decided at the last minute to turn around and try to find "our" restaurant in "our Rome." (I did find the perfect tank top, though, for two euros less than what it cost across the bridge.)

We walked around for another hour, getting more and more discouraged that we would ever find our place, unable to ask for directions because neither of us speaks Italian. Finally, with just the flow to guide us, we found "our" restaurant and had yet another meal that made my eyes roll back in my head. It was the structure of knowing that we loved our restaurant, combined with our faith that the flow of life would lead us to it that led to the perfect ending to the perfect Italian vacation.

In the same way, I guess I hope to be able to continue to live my life with just enough structure to make me feel like I'm steering the boat, but just enough flow to remind me that I'm not the one making the waves.

A Quick Trip to CT -- by Robin

(Shark Tank at the Maritime Aquarium)

To break up the holiday week break from school, we decided to go away for two nights. Not far. Just to get a change of pace. We picked Norwalk, CT, and it was a good choice.

We stayed comfortably at the Doubetree Hotel Norwalk conveniently located on Connecticut Avenue....a stones throw away from my favorite stores TJ Maxx and Home Goods. So, of course, I was happy to visit both and get in my shopping fix.

We walked around the South Norwalk "SoNo" area, with some eclectic shops and restaurants. And, ate in a totally stellar dinner spot called Barcelona Restaurant and Wine Bar. Recommended by a partner in my husband's office, the Spanish food was excellent. They served both Tapas and entrees....and we shared both. Calamari, a humus-type dish, and wonderful paella. I wish there was a branch on Long Island. I'd be a regular. They have various Connecticut locations, and I'd love to return one day. It only took us 50 minutes to get to Norwalk from our house, so if the spirit moves us, it is even a feasible day trip. http://www.barcelonawinebar.com And, it was a fine restaurant for Seth...so suitable for kids.

Aside from shopping and eating, we went to Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk. http://www.steppingstonesmuseum.org/ Learning and fun go hand-in-hand at Stepping Stones. Their exhibits and educational programs help expand a child's world by engaging them in fun, playful exploration. With four main galleries, a toddlers-only gallery and over 100 hands-on activities, Stepping Stones offers children ages ten and under plenty to explore and discover.

He particularly adored the Build It exhibit.....where he befriended other children and played with all kinds of construction tools, blocks, bricks, ....etc.....as he wore his hardhat and other attire. It took me back to his earlier days when he was a little Bob the Builder in-the-making. We spent over two hours there, and he found a cool wooden firehouse in their gift shop, which made the visit complete.

Another day we went with two other "later mom" families to the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk. http://www.MaritimeAquarium.org It was a perfect destination, given the cold, blustery weather. We were lucky the snow wasn't more significant when we were there.

The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk offers a window into Long Island Sound at the gateway of New England. Located just off Interstate 95, the Aquarium combines entertainment with education, offering living exhibits, interactive touch tanks and educational activities. It has the first and largest IMAX® theater in Connecticut, showing classic nature documentaries and Hollywood features on a screen six-stories tall. A new exhibit “Go Fish” opens in February and Meerkats arrive in June 2010.

More than 1,500 animals on display at the Aquarium represent the amazing life of Long Island Sound, plus other water habitats of significance from around the world. Seven harbor seals are fed thrice daily in a special presentation. Two river otters romp and play in a rocky exhibit. A column of jellyfish float in a serene setting. Exotic frogs and reptiles have their own exhibit. Big sharks swim inches from visitors in an 110,000 gallon tank. Visitors get even closer to animals with two touch tanks, one for shoreline animals and another where they can pet a stingray.

Gulf Stream visitors are represented by coral reef tanks, a sea turtle exhibit and other special tanks. Important habitats beyond Long Island Sound are represented by changing exhibits. For 2010, Africa is highlighted with the African Underwater Safari which shows some of the weird adaptations of African fish, including the lungfish that can live more than a year out of water. The Africa exhibit also includes snakes, geckos, penguins and Meerkats.

There is also an interactive dophin (not real dolphins) ride-film and a dedicated play space for young children.

All in all, Norwalk was a worthwhile, easy destination to get to from New York, and it was worth the trip.

PS -- Thanks to Stepping Stones and the Maritime Aquarium for hosting our visits.