Greenfield Village: A great place for a 'stay-cation'

Last year for Christmas, my mother-in-law gave our family an annual membership pass to the Henry Ford Museum/Greenfield Village.  It has been one of the best gifts ever!

My mother-in-law, sister-in-law, nephews, my kids, my mom, and I all went last week to spend the day at Greenfield Village. We have always had a great time riding the train around the Village and having fun on the merry-go-round.

But this trip was different.  This time, my six-year-old daughter was curious about the houses and asked more questions.  As we went into Henry Ford’s house, she wanted to know more about him and the people in his family photo book.  Then she wanted to put the information into context, such as wanting to know if I was alive when he made his first car. I wasn’t alive then but I was when the first Atari system came out, and I do believe that is in the Henry Ford Museum. Yikes.

I could see her wheels turning as we entered the historical doctor’s office and learned that they often gave natural remedies instead of the medicine we have today.  She also discovered that doctors pulled teeth; this was a point of interest to her since we had to go to the dentist, not a doctor, after a recent playground incident that left her front teeth wiggly.

Sometimes I feel guilty that I’m not the mom that enjoys sitting home all summer.  Sometimes I wonder if I should be doing more crafts and practicing writing like I have in summers past because a naptime schedule kept us tethered to the house.  But when I see my kids experiencing history in an interactive way, that makes me feel like I am doing something right.

Add in a Model-T car ride, some Hobo Bread, and fun family memories, and we had a great stay-cation.