Retreat

Last week, I had the luxury of an honest-to-goodness vacation in San Francisco.  I visited 3 separate beaches with these three amazing kids who I didn't realize how much I missed until I saw them again.  I'm sad that my kids don't really know them.  We need to fix that.

We hiked through mossy Muir Woods among redwood trees that make it look like you were Photoshopped into photographs at the wrong scale.

After our hike we ate lunch on the lawn of the Pelican Inn.  My mom actually told us about this place after she saw an interview with celebrity chef Jamie Oliver.  He recommended the grilled cheese.  He knows what he's talking about.

 

We also ate an incredible dinner at Wood Tavern.  One of the best meals of my life...both times I've eaten there.  But the best part of the weekend, aside from a nice long mommy break, was living inside of a family a few years ahead of mine.  It was like being on a parenting retreat run by good friends.  I got to ask questions and share ideas and failures and most importantly I saw the fruit of good parenting in their kids.  Their kids talk to each other.  They don't scream.  They still argue, but they are so well equipped by their parents that when they do disagree, their parents can ask them to go in a room, shut the door and talk it out.  And they do.  It was incredible.  

So I came home inspired to reread this book.  And to teach my kids how to explain themselves and hear others.  And to stop yelling.  Thanks Brian and Jen.