I always looked forward to flying into Schipol in the springtime when the entire countryside seems filled with brilliant tulips of all colors.
And I could write a book about traveling with infants and toddlers, with a special gratitude in my heart for the Dutch love of children, including on long KLM flights, and for finding the same love of children from the much maligned Dutch cousins, the Africaans folk in South Africa.
We would stop at a restaurant in some little farming dorp, always managed by an ample oumah who would greet us, take our order, automatically pick up our two toddlers, and take them back into the kitchen where they were doted over and spoiled rotten by the oumah and her black oumah kitchen staff.
Once, on a KLM flight from Lilongwe, Malawi, to Amsterdam, with a newborn son and a terrible twos toddler, we were given a three seat exit row where my wife and I shared holding our 12 pound infant until I finally drifted off to sleep.
Eventually my arms buckled under the weight of the baby and I awoke to find Zovuta (Trouble), as everyone who knew our daughter called her. I searched everywhere in the darkened 747 to find her, until a flight attendant asked me if I was looking for my daughter. “She’s in the rear galley. She was trying to call someone on the flight attendant phone across from her seat, so I decided to let you sleep and I would babysit her.”
I walked to the rear gallery and found my daughter entertaining most of the cabin crew. They seemed almost disappointed when I retrieved her.
And it was always the same in Holland. We stop at a tourist attraction or a cafe or a store, and there was always a young Dutch woman ready to entertain our kids so we could enjoy a meal or whatever.
It wasn’t until we moved to the US that we discovered what horrible, careless parents we were when we mentioned to people our experiences.
If I am ever blessed with grandchildren, I’m going to take them on a trip to Holland. I want to enjoy being with children in a place where they are cherished and beloved.
Switter, I loved reading this comment, especially what you wrote here: "I want to enjoy being with children in a place where they are cherished and beloved." Everything you shared also completely connected with our own experience here in Belgium so far, and in how they always make kids feel welcome and a part of each experience -- Jose and I were even surprised after we moved here by the number of children's tables and corners you'll find set up for kids at even the smallest cafe. Thanks so much as always for being here, and for drawing from your deep well of stories to share with us 🙏🙏
What a wonderful metaphor: riding the tulip train to delight and joy! Thank you for being rushed and messy and real along the way, and for practicing terraphilia by taking your kids and Jose to see the tulip fields. Many blessings to you!
Susan, thank you for this wonderful comment -- it is always such a delight to hear from you, and I'm so glad you enjoyed the start of this new journey. Thank you so much again as well for your beautiful words about confluences earlier this month, they've continued to resonate with me 💙 sending light and blessings right back to you!
I love it. That's got to be the Belgian version of the pumpkin patch for American children. I can see little Elena running full tilt up and down the rows and rows of color. Like frolicking among the bands of a rainbow.
Thank you so much for your lovely comment, Sue, and especially for your beautiful words about being among the bands of a rainbow -- that's exactly what it felt like. And having grown up going to pumpkin patches, I love that you made that connection :) Thanks so much as always for reading and being here 🤍
Ahh thank you so much! And I especially love that you noticed the lettering -- I wrote a post a couple of years ago now (https://dandelionseeds.substack.com/p/sneak-peek-4) about how my dad is a trained artist, who once specialized in commercial lettering in the final days before computers and graphic design programs, so there's a very good reason I also love any illustration that involves hand-lettering :)
Thank you as always for reading and being here, and I can't wait to share the next part of this journey with you this week! 🌷
thank you so much for sharing a post i had not yet had the pleasure of reading! it's so lovely to read about your father and the skills (and appreciation) he taught you. he sounds like quite a wonderful gentleman with a keen eye.
i don't hand letter in the same capacity as you, but i do paint Christmas ornaments for my closest friends and family. lettering their names on each years selection is a part of the love that goes into the creation. I have big respect for artists who are able to, and also enjoy the process!
looking forward to your continued story this week as well! :) <3
I always looked forward to flying into Schipol in the springtime when the entire countryside seems filled with brilliant tulips of all colors.
And I could write a book about traveling with infants and toddlers, with a special gratitude in my heart for the Dutch love of children, including on long KLM flights, and for finding the same love of children from the much maligned Dutch cousins, the Africaans folk in South Africa.
We would stop at a restaurant in some little farming dorp, always managed by an ample oumah who would greet us, take our order, automatically pick up our two toddlers, and take them back into the kitchen where they were doted over and spoiled rotten by the oumah and her black oumah kitchen staff.
Once, on a KLM flight from Lilongwe, Malawi, to Amsterdam, with a newborn son and a terrible twos toddler, we were given a three seat exit row where my wife and I shared holding our 12 pound infant until I finally drifted off to sleep.
Eventually my arms buckled under the weight of the baby and I awoke to find Zovuta (Trouble), as everyone who knew our daughter called her. I searched everywhere in the darkened 747 to find her, until a flight attendant asked me if I was looking for my daughter. “She’s in the rear galley. She was trying to call someone on the flight attendant phone across from her seat, so I decided to let you sleep and I would babysit her.”
I walked to the rear gallery and found my daughter entertaining most of the cabin crew. They seemed almost disappointed when I retrieved her.
And it was always the same in Holland. We stop at a tourist attraction or a cafe or a store, and there was always a young Dutch woman ready to entertain our kids so we could enjoy a meal or whatever.
It wasn’t until we moved to the US that we discovered what horrible, careless parents we were when we mentioned to people our experiences.
If I am ever blessed with grandchildren, I’m going to take them on a trip to Holland. I want to enjoy being with children in a place where they are cherished and beloved.
Switter, I loved reading this comment, especially what you wrote here: "I want to enjoy being with children in a place where they are cherished and beloved." Everything you shared also completely connected with our own experience here in Belgium so far, and in how they always make kids feel welcome and a part of each experience -- Jose and I were even surprised after we moved here by the number of children's tables and corners you'll find set up for kids at even the smallest cafe. Thanks so much as always for being here, and for drawing from your deep well of stories to share with us 🙏🙏
What a wonderful metaphor: riding the tulip train to delight and joy! Thank you for being rushed and messy and real along the way, and for practicing terraphilia by taking your kids and Jose to see the tulip fields. Many blessings to you!
Susan, thank you for this wonderful comment -- it is always such a delight to hear from you, and I'm so glad you enjoyed the start of this new journey. Thank you so much again as well for your beautiful words about confluences earlier this month, they've continued to resonate with me 💙 sending light and blessings right back to you!
xo!
I love it. That's got to be the Belgian version of the pumpkin patch for American children. I can see little Elena running full tilt up and down the rows and rows of color. Like frolicking among the bands of a rainbow.
Thank you so much for your lovely comment, Sue, and especially for your beautiful words about being among the bands of a rainbow -- that's exactly what it felt like. And having grown up going to pumpkin patches, I love that you made that connection :) Thanks so much as always for reading and being here 🤍
Oh boy! More tulips! More train!
Hooray! I'm so glad you're along for the journey, Tonianne 🌷
I feel unruffled already. I look forward to the a view of beautiful tulips is coming my way!
Ahh I'm so happy to hear it, Minaz, and I can't wait to share the next part of the journey with you this week -- there will definitely be tulips 😍🌷
Thank you for sharing this lovely story! 🫧
I'm so glad you enjoyed the start of this new journey, Karen! 🌷
the lettering on the station sign! ah! it's lovely!!! glad to ride alongside, too. :) <3
Ahh thank you so much! And I especially love that you noticed the lettering -- I wrote a post a couple of years ago now (https://dandelionseeds.substack.com/p/sneak-peek-4) about how my dad is a trained artist, who once specialized in commercial lettering in the final days before computers and graphic design programs, so there's a very good reason I also love any illustration that involves hand-lettering :)
Thank you as always for reading and being here, and I can't wait to share the next part of this journey with you this week! 🌷
thank you so much for sharing a post i had not yet had the pleasure of reading! it's so lovely to read about your father and the skills (and appreciation) he taught you. he sounds like quite a wonderful gentleman with a keen eye.
i don't hand letter in the same capacity as you, but i do paint Christmas ornaments for my closest friends and family. lettering their names on each years selection is a part of the love that goes into the creation. I have big respect for artists who are able to, and also enjoy the process!
looking forward to your continued story this week as well! :) <3
I love this! The idea of a tulip train sounds so magical.
Thank you, Nicole! I'm so glad you enjoyed this 🌷
Lovely! I am sitting on the Tulip train, the seat right behind you;) I can’t wait to see what comes next!
Ahh hooray! I'm so glad you're along for the journey as well :) 🌷
Looking forward to the journey!
I'm so happy to hear it, Louisa! 🌷
This is so lovely. Thank you. You make pictures with words.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Lischer -- I'm so glad you enjoyed this! 🌷
The tulip train, how lovely!!
It was really such a special trip, and I knew right away I wanted to share about it here :)
Thanks so much for reading and coming along, Molly! 🌷
Thank you for your beautifully illustrated and uplifting stories, always a pleasure to find in my inbox :-)
Ride on tulip train!
Let’s join this young family.
Hope it doesn’t rain.
Ahh thank you, Marisol! I'm so glad you're coming along 🌷
So beautiful, Candace. I could feel the jangling stress which then ebbed away into an awe inspiring and grounding experience.
I wonder if I might get to go on this train journey one day?