Japanese toddlers, a Puerto Rican wedding planner, and sushi in bed
aka I broke my ankle and here's what's making me feel better
First off: welcome to the new folks who found me via the wonderful Jenny. I hope you’ll stick around! I usually focus on recommendations for adults, but will definitely dip into the kids’ world from time to time.
On a less positive note, I broke my ankle hiking last Friday. I’d been planning to write about how I took a day all for myself. Did a solo hike in the spring sun. Got a call from the school nurse while I was halfway up the mountain and Jon was in Brooklyn but our neighbor sprang into action. Went out to dinner with one of my closest friends. Encouraged all my mom friends to do the same. Etc, etc.
Instead, I get to write about how I fell on a treacherous downhill stretch and broke my ankle.
Yes, I’m in a lot of pain (though it’s gotten so much better!).
Yes, I’m on crutches and can’t put any weight on it.
No, I don’t need surgery, but it won’t be back to normal until summer.
No, I can’t effing drive because it’s my right ankle.
But it will make for a great story one day, which I can appreciate even now. More to the point: it’s leaving me with more time to read, watch, and write than I’ve had in a long time. I can’t do anything else!
What to Watch
Have you heard about Old Enough? It’s a reality show from Japan, where it’s been airing for three decades. Netflix acquired 20 episodes (so far), and it’s become an overnight sensation on the platform. I can see why. The premise is rooted in the time-honored Japanese tradition of sending even very young kids out into the neighborhood to run errands alone — and celebrating their triumph when they return. Old Enough is the mac-and-cheese (or perhaps the instant ramen) of the unscripted world: easy to binge on, warm and comforting, a bit nostalgic, and enjoyed by just about everyone.
There’s some debate in Japan around whether this rite of passage is still the best way to foster independence in young children, but that’s all outside the frame. What is on-screen are the stories of these adorable toddlers venturing out into their neighborhoods — edited to heighten the thrill and the stakes, with a self-serious narrator calling their every move like a sportscaster.
Its cute-factor, charm, and feeling of community make Old Enough a wonderful salve for whatever’s ailing you, whether that’s a broken ankle or the state of the world. My 8.5-year-old, Esme, has really enjoyed it, too, and I’m grateful for the rare show that entertains us both.
What to Read
Most novelists take a few books to find their stride. Xóchitl González, however, knocked it out of the park with her debut, Olga Dies Dreaming. The story of a Brooklyn-born Puerto Rican wedding planner, her congressman brother, and their absent, revolutionary mother, Olga Dies Dreaming touches on themes as profound as political corruption, the American dream, and what it means to grow up between two cultures. At the same time, it’s a light, funny, and compelling read.
González, a former wedding planner herself, skewers the NYC elite and power-hungry politicians while painting a warm-but-complicated picture of her family and their gentrifying community in Sunset Park. With its mix of intrigue, rebellion, romance, and humor, it’s a fair bet you’ll like Olga Dies Dreaming as much as I did.
What to Eat
The worst part of having a broken ankle (besides the whole driving thing; and the pain; and the crutches) might be the fact that I can’t cook at all right now. Jon is waiting on me with the utmost patience and care — on top of handling *everything* with the girls — but I miss being able to fix something for myself or for the family.
Still, I’ve been treated to some wonderful food pick-me-ups, the best of which may have been the first night after I fell. We ordered in from our favorite local sushi joint, and Jon and I ate it in bed, since I couldn’t make it to a table, let alone downstairs. I’ve fantasized about eating sushi in bed before, if not under these conditions, and it was exactly as sumptuous as I’d anticipated. I recommend it highly even if you *can* make it to your dining table.
How to Weigh In
Have you tried any of these yourself? Let us know what you think!