Like many other educators who are off from school today with their children, I, too, am off from work but catching up on work related tasks (providing feedback to schools on their writing program review documents & finalizing details for threefull days of LDC training this week). As someone who tends to work more than play, I’m trying to be conscious of my need to break from work tasks more often.
Given my boys’ interest in history, Presidents’ Day provides me the perfect opportunity to ensure my day includes more than work tasks. In fact, the exciting part of my day includes planning for our family spring break vacation to Washington D.C.. My boys have long wanted to travel to D.C.,and after every trip I took for work, the boys showed even greater interest in the history of our country. They actually requested mini statues of the White House as a souvenir.
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| Nine year old last year dressed up for biography project |
This morning I asked each child individually (and not within earshot of each other) if he knew why we were off school today and if he had a favorite president. Thankfully, both boys knew we were out today for Presidents’ Day, and interestingly, there is a significant connection between their responses regarding their favorite president. My twelve year old promptly responded that his favorite president is Abraham Lincoln. When I asked the nine year old, he said his favorite is Obama. Knowing of his interest in Abraham Lincoln, Ipressed him further about why Obama. “Well, of course I like Abraham Lincoln. He was the one who made it possible for Obama to one day become president.”
Let’s hope our request for tickets to the White House is granted, so these boys can see the home of our President. Knowing it’s unlikely since there are only four of us, we are planning our itinerary with only a short visit to the outside of the White House but keeping ourselves flexible just in case.
Here’s our tentative itinerary for the trip
Saturday Arrive in Washington D.C.
Sunday Ford’s Theatre
ArlingtonNational Cemetery
Monday National Postal Museum
Union Station
Library of Congress
Capitol
White House (outside view)
Tuesday Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Paddle Boats in Tidal Basin
Monuments & Memorials on the National Mall
Wednesday Smithsonian museums
Thursday Return to Lexington
