WebParenTips - The Online Parenting Newsletter vol.6 no.4, Apr 2005 

             A NIGHT AT THE OPERA
			 
			 
Let me share a glorious experience one grandmother (me)
had on a cold February weekend in New York City. My
daughter and 9-year-old granddaughter met me there for
a quick girls' weekend. Hannah's twin had already gone to
NYC on a guys' only weekend with his dad.

We crowded the following into 44 hours: a visit to Central
Park to see the Gates, a quick look at the mummies and
some paintings at the Metropolitan Museum, a walk though
the newly remodeled Museum of Modern Art, the opera
Nabucco at the Metropolitan Opera House, and an hour in
two made-for-children stores: F.A. O. Schwarz and American Girl.

Hannah loved every minute of her weekend but guess what
she liked the best? The opera! We prepared her by telling
her the story beforehand. She was entranced by the music,
the plot, the action on stage. Even though the opera didn't
end until 11 pm her interest never flagged. It was was
apparent that she was excited by her first exposure to this
art form.

My daughter and I had worried about how she would take
an evening at the opera and decided one of us would take
her back to the hotel if necessary. But nothing would have
dragged Hannah away before the dramatic ending.


Why am I telling you this? Because parents tend to worry
unnecessarily about children becoming bored by grown-up
things. My philosophy is that the world is full of a lot more
than TV and pop culture.


My suggestions for parents:

• Expose your kids as much as possible to the finer things in life.

• Prepare them ahead of time.

• Expect the best from your children rather than fearing the worst.

    
Happy Parenting,
Marilyn Heins, M.D.


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Dr. Marilyn Heins is a Tucson pediatrician, parenting
columnist for the Arizona Daily Star, author of the book,
ParenTips, as well as a mother, stepmother and grandmother.

She is available for workshops and lectures to groups of
parents, teachers, and grandparents. See:

Dr. Heins' Lectures
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