7
EZTHE WASHINGTON POST.
FRIDAy, MARCH 27, 2020I’
ll be up early, because I have four
young kids: ages 6, 4 and 2-year-old
twins. My husband and I get absolute-
ly no time to sleep in, so we would be in
our minivan and headed to D.C. first thing in
the morning.
We’re tribal members of the Piscataway
Conoy Tribe of southern Maryland, so our
first stop would be the National Museum of
the American Indian. We’ve taken the older
kids there already, but not the babies. We’re so
lucky to have such proximity — it’s an
opportunity to see basket weavings and intri-
cate powwows, and even the video displays
are quite engaging. There are regular pow-
wows in southern Maryland that we’ve at-
tended; my husband is actually chief of the
tribe.
Then, to introduce my kids to their African
descents, we’d go to the National Museum of
African American History and Culture.
That’s s omething I look forward to, letting my
children know where we’ve come from.
There’s also video footage of my Olympic
achievements. (Though when I took my older
kids, it was passed by very quickly.)
My family loves walking along the Poto-
mac River in Georgetown — and especially
running through the big fountain on hot days.
I have quite a few videos of them just having a
blast during an impromptu sprinkler session,
all four kids and diapers included. My hus-
band and I love views of water, so even if we
stayed dry, we’d be happy to be there.
After that, we’d head to the Tidal Basin to
see the cherry blossoms and take some family
photos. We’d also go paddle boating — which
always ends up being a much harder task
than it looks, even for a three-time Olympian!
We’d fuel up afterward at Matchbox , just
outside Capital One Arena. My h usband and I
had our first date at one of their other
locations, so whenever we’re in the District,
we try to go. I love their mini burgers —
they’re the perfect size for adults and kids.
We’re a very athletic family, and we love
basketball. My husband played in college. So
after eating, we’d catch a game: either the
Washington Wizards or those girl-power
Mystics. It would take a dream to make this
happen, since in real life, with four kids, it’s
hard to pull off.
Finally, we’d end the day at National
Harbor. The kids would want cotton candy or
ice cream; I don’t have a sweet tooth. I’d
rather drink vinegar! But they’d get whatever
they love, like chocolate mint or Neapolitan,
and then we’d take a ride on the Capital
Wheel , taking in that striking view of the
District.
[email protected]My D.C. Dream Day
A mix of museums and outdoor time
In D.C. Dream Day, we ask our favorite people in the area to tell us
how they would spend a perfect day in the District.
Dominique Dawes ’s back handsprings on the balance beam were
electrifying; her tumbling passes, daring and complex. During a
lengthy gymnastics career, she competed in three Olympic Games —
and, as part of the Magnificent Seven in 1996, became the first African
American to win an individual Olympic medal in women’s gymnastics.
Since retiring from competition in 2000, “Awesome Dawesome,” as
the gymnastics community called her, has remained passionate about
her sport. This year, she’s opening the Dominique Dawes Gymnastics
Academy in Clarksburg, the first of what she hopes will become a
chain of facilities around the region.
“The fans here really kept me in the sport for 18 years,” says Dawes,
43, who grew up in Silver Spring and still lives in Montgomery County.“This is a way I want to give back and create a healthy, happy
environment, for kids and for their families. The community is
embracing it — we’ve got hundreds of people already signed up.”
The past few years have been tumultuous for gymnastics, which
played a role in Dawes’s desire to open her own academy for children
and teens. “I didn’t feel comfortable with any gyms in this area that I
would put my kids in,” she says. “A nd I love gymnastics. It’s a beautiful
sport where you can develop flexibility, strength and coordination
that translate on the soccer field, the basketball court, the swimming
pool.”
Just as Dawes strives to cultivate a positive culture for young
athletes, her family-oriented dream day in Washington embraces a
happy, healthy ethos.
— as told to Angela HauptJOHN MCDONNELL/THE WASHINGTON POSTDominique Dawes would end her perfect day at National Harbor with a ride on the Capital Wheel, which offers views of D.C.JONATHAN NEWTON/THE WASHINGTON POSTRICKY CARIOTI/THE WASHINGTON POST
LEFT: As a member of the Piscataway Conoy Tribe of
southern Maryland, Dawes said her first stop would
be the National Museum of the American Indian.
ABOVE: Dawes and her family would head to the
Tidal Basin to see cherry blossoms and go paddle
boating, which she said is harder than it seems.