Last spring break I went to Paris for the first time.
With my (then) 17 year old daughter.
To share the magnitude of this with you, please know that I’ve dreamed of going to Paris all my life and for lots of reasons (none really valid, but all very rational) I had never been.
After I had breast cancer, I made a bucket list. Suddenly, all the things I had wanted to do in life, all the places I had always wanted to go had a lot of immediacy.
There’s something about getting cancer that will do that to you. You suddenly realize how short life is, how quickly it can all change; you heavily feel your own mortality with a solid thump.
Paris was #1 on that list.
I’d been to France in my 20’s but just never got around to Paris. Then I got married and had kids and then…..well any of you moms know what happens then. Life with kids happens. Trips to Paris aren’t that easy with 2 toddlers. Plus I work full time and between kids and work, Paris just seemed harder and harder to squeeze into the mix.
After I had breast cancer in 2010, I made a vow not to wait to fulfill that bucket list anymore and last January, I just took the plunge and decided I was going to take my daughter to Paris during spring break. My son is on the basketball team and once you’re in an organized sport in high school, there are no more family spring break trips, so it was just a mother daughter event.
Paris was better than I ever could have anticipated. I’ve lived near New York City my entire life so have held it as the gold standard when it comes to cities, but Paris wins hands down (sorry, New York).
The city is so beautiful. The food is astoundingly good, even better than you’ve heard. The people were warm and friendly (as long as I started out each conversation with “Parlez-vous Anglais?”). The architecture is amazing; every corner we turned brought a more beautiful view.
We both agreed that the highlight of the trip was a cooking class we took in Montmartre. We met our chef at 9:30 a.m. and he took us shopping in the local market for our dinner ingredients.
 Buying the 4 course menu dinner ingredients in local shops |
After the shopping expedition, we went to the cooking school and spent hours preparing and eating our 4 course meal. We rolled out of the class around 3:30 p.m. replete with food, wine and desserts (yes, plural desserts). I would recommend this to anyone who goes to Paris, it was a wonderful experience. (If you’re interested, the school is called Cook’n with class and I organized it all online in advance before we left.)
 Scallop appetizer, Lamb entree and Passionfruit Souffle – c’est magnifique! |
But the very best part of the entire trip was that my daughter and I both experienced our first time in Paris together. There were times during the trip that I would hold my breath at the depth of emotion I felt as I shared this wonderful adventure with her.
How about you? Have you gone on any special trips with your daughter or son? I hope you’ve had the chance to experience something so memorable with your children, as well.
This is a memory your daughter will always have. And you know what? experiences are the best gifts we can give to ourselves and others. How blessed she is to have this time with you and you with her.
Thanks, Carol. Yes, and I so agree with you that the best gifts are the experiences, not the “things.” I also felt so lucky that I could share it with her, it was my first time to Paris, so will always remember my time with my daughter. I intend to go back many more times, but this trip will be the most memorable. Thanks for reading!
How absolutely beautiful. My sister-in-law wants to take my niece to Paris, she and my daughter are the same age (niece and daughter, both 7) and I don’t know – I think it might be too young, BUT you’re reminding me how sometimes we need to take charge and take life by the horns (or something) and go for it. Beautiful post and I’m glad you had a beautiful trip.
If she goes in the late spring when it’s warm, I think that 7 year olds would like it, there’s a lot to do outdoors and this is a city where you walk a lot. Thank you for the lovely comment!!
What an awesome mother-daughter experience and trip, Claudia! I’m so jazzed for both of you that you did that. I would absolutely love to go to that cooking school! You are a great reminder to live today – every day. Awesome post and thank you for the tap on the shoulder 🙂
Hi Mike – I would definitely recommend the cooking school – it was AMAZING and the food was out of this world delicious! Yes, live today. Some days it’s hard to remember that, I need to remind myself every day!
Nice. Funny, my daughter is a French major at Michigan State, and my son played basketball in high school so I know about those inflexible athletic schedules. My daughter and I have taken three trips to NYC together – just the two of us. They definitely make nice memories. How nice that you went to Paris with yours. Also, you recently “liked” my page on Facebook…so want to say thanks.
Hi Pam, Maybe your daughter will get to go to France for a semester…. 🙂 I live right near NYC and love to get in there with my daughter, nice that you had the chance with yours. Thanks for stopping by.
Yes, I took my kids to San Francisco for several days when they were teens. We had a blast and they talk about it still. It’s the last trip we took just the three of us, then life happened and everyone’s grown, busy, families of their own. It’s great you got to do this. Like you’ve experienced. Shit happens in life.
Love San Francisco, too! I took my daughter to LA a couple of years ago, haven’t taken her to SF yet, but she’d love that; she’s a real west coaster.
Oh my gosh, I love Paris. I would give anything to go back. I’m so glad you got the chance to spend an amazing trip with your daughter. 🙂
Isn’t it gorgeous and amazing!! I’m trying to figure out a girlfriends trip – even for just a longish weekend. I still want to get to Versailles and Giverney which are day trips outside of Paris. Hope you get there again, soon!
Hi Claudia, What a wonderful experience you two shared. Creating memories with our children is so special. I just returned from CA where I visited my daughter. We weren’t in Paris of course, but gosh, we made some beautiful memories. Thanks for sharing some of yours.
Hi Nancy! So nice that you were recently in CA to visit your daughter, especially given the crazy weather we’ve had on the East coast. And it’s good to know that as your kids get older they’re still interested in spending time with you 🙂 Mine are in that stage where I have to kind of twist their arm to spend a lot of time with me but I’ve heard from my sisters that they “come back” in their 20’s. xo
I took my children to Paris when they were in middle school. It was fantastic. They were old enough to enjoy it and young enough to show their excitement for everything. I’m so happy you had Paris with your daughter and very impressed that you made that soufflé.
That must have been so much fun. It’s the most beautiful city, I can’t wait to get back and see more. My dream is to figure out a way to spend a month there in a pied a terre. The souffle was made with LOTS of help from the class chef, believe me 🙂 Mostly…..we did the eating of said souffle 🙂
My kids are busy with their kids and lives…., so I am planning trips with each grandchild. I’d love to take my oldest granddaughter….16 soon….to Paris now that I’ve read this! The cooking class would be awesome! The 12 yo and are planning NYC this spring; bet I can get inside tips from you!
Oh, I think your 16 year old would LOVE Paris! And how cool to share a trip like that with her. When you come to NYC, let me know – I’m only an hour outside of Manhattan and there all the time so I can give you tips on where to go. xo
Hi Claudia,
You just followed me on Twitter, I checked your profile — and anyone whose blog is titled “My Left Breast” simply has to be wonderful! So first of all, I applaud your bravery in all that that title involves.
Next, I love your description of your trip to Paris. You reached right in a grabbed my heart with your emotions. Brava, you!
I adore Paris. My husband Conrad and I traveled there by train from southern Spain one year and we kept saying to each other, “Us? We’re going to Paris?” It felt so huge, as if our vagabond ways wouldn’t fit there — like it was too sophisticated for us.
We stayed for four days and never once got the stars out of our eyes from witnessing yet another glorious old building, incredible history, mouth-watering baguettes, and the most romantic vibe imaginable. We hated leaving and have longed to go back ever since.
Thanks for reminding me — and letting me share. Glad I found you!
Wishing you continued good health.
Josie
Hi Josie, Thank you for your kind comment about the blog. And….Paris – yes it is so beautiful! You captured it perfectly – the buildings, the history, THE BAGUETTES! I have never experienced bread like that, just so delicious. I am trying to scheme a way to spend a month there in a little apartment…..maybe not for a year or so but that’s my dream. Thanks for checking My Left Breast out and will look for you on Twitter!! xo
We have tried a couple cooking schools since our empty nest journey began a few years back and had a fun time. Great way to spend some time with friends and family.
I would definitely do another cooking class in another city, it really gave us a good sense of the city, as we went shopping for the food in the local markets. Thanks for stopping by!
This experience sounds so amazing, so perfect. And to have shared it with your daughter. It’s really kind of neat that you could only take one child with you to make it a special thing just the two of you can share.
And that cooking class! Oh MY! I took a cooking class in Bangkok and loved that experience. Taking a cooking class in every foreign city you visit sounds like a great idea!
Yes! The cooking class was our most favorite part of the trip, we really felt like we were a part of the culture and community. Bangkok sounds pretty awesome, too. I would definitely do this on every international trip I make from here on out. Thanks for reading!
Sounds like heaven. I was my daughter’s Girl Scout leader. One reason we stayed together as a troop through high school was the trip to Italy we planned the summer before their senior year. That trip led to my daughter minoring in Italian and being an au pair one summer in Tuscany. I treasure that trip with my baby girl and all her friends that she grew up with.
So cool that your daughter and you went to Italy and then it ultimately led her to minor in Italian! She’ll always remember that, I’m sure (as you will). I love to travel, trying to squeeze another one in soon……thanks for reading!