Two glorious days in Charlottesville, Virginia, with Kate, Paul, Sam, and Toby. Heat wave made outdoor activities difficult at times, and the kids were not on their best behavior (see below), but the company couldn’t have been better. Sipping wine with old friends after the kids have gone to bed, talking about whatever comes to mind, is a solid 10 on my scale of favorite things.
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Challenges
Despite enjoying this visit as adults, it was clear that our kids haven’t adapted as well to this trip as they did last summer. They’ve just been off—crying over small stuff, bickering more than usual, an uptick in meanness and defiance. We think it’s a combination of sleep deprivation (not excessive, but later bedtimes have added up), too much driving in the first few days, and transition stress for Griffin leaving Kindergarten. We’re hopeful that a low-key week with their grandparents in Bethesda (our next stop) will help reset things.