Hells Front Lawn (An American Relaxing In Paris)

For all the parents who have ever paused to wonder what made them want to parent some rascals of their own, I remind you of the countless wonderful moments being a parent brings. First haircut, candy gathering on Halloween, A soccer game in the park…

Being in Paris in the spring is iconic. Being in one of Frances great parks watching your children play on the lawn is one of these great moments for a parent with a child of any age.

In my recent trip to Paris , when we first arrived a marvelous statistic was peppered into the introduction which is that Paris is 40% park space! Wow. So one day my family went to a park, where the air smelled of spring, the birds were singing, My boys were chasing each other around the lawn. I felt a memory in the making.

Then I heard it.

The lawns are forbidden!

There were no signs saying such.

Guilty as charged, my kids were indeed playing on the lawn, they were Reprimanded and ordered to leave the grass.

It wasn’t special grass. In a special area. Just vast grass and trees. I guess I should have noticed the only recreation going on were the dignified silence of people sitting on benches or strolling glumly along the path.

It is probably just me, a selfish American looking for something to complain about. Paris is indeed beautiful. People generous, the culture and architecture truly spectacular.

I am curious though, what good is a lawn you can’t play, lay or walk on?  It’s akin to a tricycle with square wheels.

As one would expect of the French, form over function is something they hold dear to their hearts. But I have to believe God would be sad to see grass kids are forbidden play on.

Paris’ parks must be Hells front lawn.