Member Spotlight: The Richardson Family
In our monthly member spotlights, we hear from Museum member families about their creative experiences during the pandemic and what they look forward to the most when the Museum reopens! This month, we feature Monique Rodriguez (Richardson) and her family of four, including her husband Greg and two boys, Luca and Nico. Monique and her family have been coming to the Museum since 2013, and in 2019, she joined the Museum’s Board of Directors. Get to know more about this Museum-loyal family!
Tell us about you and your family!
Monique: We are the Richardson family, Greg, Monique, Luca and Nico! Luca is 8 years old and Nico is 5 years old. We are BIG fans of The New Children’s Museum! Although we live in Scripps Ranch, pre-COVID, we took every opportunity we could to drive down to the Museum if only for a few hours.
What brought you to the Museum?
M: We’ve been members of the Museum since 2015, but have been coming to the Museum since 2013. We first discovered the Museum when our oldest, Luca, was about a year old, and it provided such an engaging, fun and safe space for him to explore. As Luca got older and our family grew with the addition of Nico, we found new areas of the Museum to love. Our love started with Wobbleland, and painting the Flower Truck on Paint Patio. Our latest loves were No Rules…Except and Whammock! for Nico, and the Innovators LAB and The Wonder Sound for Luca. We’ve also participated in the Museum’s camp program and Mass Creativity Day. Any excuse to spend time with our friends at the Museum always make us feel like family!
What is your family’s favorite Museum experience?
M: The children have too many favorites to count! However, as a family, our most vivid experience was the Pajama Jam New Year’s Eve celebration in 2018. We celebrated with family and friends – dancing, eating and having a blast!
How does your family keep art, play and creativity alive at home during the Museum’s closure?
M: We have been using the Museum’s Think Play Create From Home Learning Kits and printing out the cool, downloadable coloring sheets from the the Museum’s website. It is not a substitute for being at the the Museum, but it allows us to feel connected and have fun along the way. In particular, the boys loved the at-home art activity in which they used aluminum foil and paper to create shapes. I found aluminum foil all over the house for days!
What does your family look forward to the most when the Museum reopens?
M: We can’t wait to see the new El Más Allá installation by Panca, hang out in Whammock! and be back for more camp adventures.
Interested in being featured in our Member Spotlight next month? Please fill out our member spotlight questionnaire! Don’t have a membership? Learn more about our membership levels and perks here.
