When Z chose to research and be Abraham Lincoln for a school project, we knew we needed to take him to Springfield, Illinois, to see the Lincoln sites. We’d visited years ago with the older boys and loved it. This year we had my high school best friend as our tour guide.
We visited the Lincoln home first. Z wasn’t too excited about this one, but we promised there would be more to come.
Z had become very knowledgeable about Honest Abe during his school research, and was most proud of the fact that Abraham Lincoln had freed the slaves. I knew he would be very interested in the sights of Springfield and would soak up more information, but I wasn’t prepared for his reaction to this particular scene. Z was absolutely entranced, and had to go back and look at it more than once. I could tell that he was taking it all in, trying to process what had happened, while asking all kinds of questions. He even went to the sides of the display and looked into the eyes of the men who were pulling the family apart. He called me over and said, “Mom, he looks so mean.” Seeing him so still and quiet is something I won’t ever forget.
We also visited the gravesite and tomb. This trip was a great way for Z to learn more about his favorite president, as well as an opportunity for me to visit with my dear high school friend!
Travel With the Fam 