 |
| Don't ask me why, but there's a monkey on Woodgrove Ave. |
20 September 2010
19 September 2010
17 September 2010
My holey heart
Singapore has been a huge blessing to me. It is for this reason that I haven't spent too much of my time looking back on what I left behind. It has taken me two and a half months to really feel the weight of homesickness. Maybe I was in the honeymoon period.
For whatever reason, a lot of things happened to coincide this week and last that have made me miss America intensely.
My Grandpa is in the hospital and I just want to be with my family.
My friends have all started school again and I want to be there with them for that.
Some of my friends here went back to America for various reasons this week, and where's the fairness in that?
One of my kids in Minnesota is turning 2.
Fall is happening in America!
And the list goes on.
It's hard to be here and know about all of the things I'm missing there. But I also have this gut feeling that if I were there I would have the same trouble missing all of the things here. There is a hole in my heart for the people and places in America that I love.
Regardless, God is good, and He's taking care of me here. I guess the more I miss, the better it'll be when I finally come home again.
P.S. You are encouraged to email or video chat or send snail mail or contact me in anyway or form. I miss all your faces!
For whatever reason, a lot of things happened to coincide this week and last that have made me miss America intensely.
My Grandpa is in the hospital and I just want to be with my family.
My friends have all started school again and I want to be there with them for that.
Some of my friends here went back to America for various reasons this week, and where's the fairness in that?
One of my kids in Minnesota is turning 2.
Fall is happening in America!
And the list goes on.
It's hard to be here and know about all of the things I'm missing there. But I also have this gut feeling that if I were there I would have the same trouble missing all of the things here. There is a hole in my heart for the people and places in America that I love.
Regardless, God is good, and He's taking care of me here. I guess the more I miss, the better it'll be when I finally come home again.
P.S. You are encouraged to email or video chat or send snail mail or contact me in anyway or form. I miss all your faces!
the Young in Life
There's this organization called Young Life, and I am apparently the only American ever who hadn't ever heard of it (at least before I moved here). Basically, it is a ministry for international high schoolers in other countries (i.e. Americans). They provide youth groups and other fun stuff for the students, and in general provide a good influence, support, and teachings about Jesus. It was really a natural progression for me to become involved, because most of the staff go to my church and I live two blocks away from the school where 95% of the students in Young Life go.
Every Monday night I volunteer and help out with Club, the weekly large group meeting. It always takes place at some house or another along my street, which is fantastically convenient for me. We sing songs and put on crazy skits and do crazy games, all in all its a good time.
For the last two weeks we've had an average of 50 kids. That's a lot of high schoolers. Most of whom have lived here for years and years, and have known each other for a while. It has been overwhelming to try and introduce myself to them, mostly because I'm the newbie--to Singapore and Young Life.
I'm excited to be a part of it, and am hoping that by living in their neighborhood, I'll be able to just be around for these kids. Who knows, I might even start up a bible study for some of the girls. One thing I do know is that I get to be a Cabin Leader for a retreat in November at an Indonesian Resort. That's what I'm talking about...
I'm sure I will have plenty of stories to tell about my adventures with Young Life. So far it's involved lots of waffles, wiffleball with shaving cream, and pretending to shave my legs in front of everyone. I realized that it's a lot easier for me to put myself out there in a crowd of high schoolers now than it was when I was in high school. It's probably because I really don't care what they think of me, and they have to deal with me no matter what.
Every Monday night I volunteer and help out with Club, the weekly large group meeting. It always takes place at some house or another along my street, which is fantastically convenient for me. We sing songs and put on crazy skits and do crazy games, all in all its a good time.
For the last two weeks we've had an average of 50 kids. That's a lot of high schoolers. Most of whom have lived here for years and years, and have known each other for a while. It has been overwhelming to try and introduce myself to them, mostly because I'm the newbie--to Singapore and Young Life.
I'm excited to be a part of it, and am hoping that by living in their neighborhood, I'll be able to just be around for these kids. Who knows, I might even start up a bible study for some of the girls. One thing I do know is that I get to be a Cabin Leader for a retreat in November at an Indonesian Resort. That's what I'm talking about...
I'm sure I will have plenty of stories to tell about my adventures with Young Life. So far it's involved lots of waffles, wiffleball with shaving cream, and pretending to shave my legs in front of everyone. I realized that it's a lot easier for me to put myself out there in a crowd of high schoolers now than it was when I was in high school. It's probably because I really don't care what they think of me, and they have to deal with me no matter what.
Harry Potter: the series
I finished reading all of Harry Potter. From cover to cover, first through seventh, in the span of less than 2 months. It was wonderful. But now it's time to move on.
It's a small small world.
I would just like to point out what a small world we live in. Last night I had dinner with a friend from church. She is Singaporean but spent 4 years in Minnesota going to school at Macalester--she lived less than two miles away from me for 3 years. Last year she moved back to Singapore with her new husband--a native Minnesotan who grew up in Eagan and went to high school at the Zoo School (School of Environmental Studies on MN Zoo property). I finally got to meet him last night and we got to talk about life in Minnesota, dealing with Singapore, and Twins baseball. Crazy, right?
After dinner last night, I got a call from a friend who had been called by a friend who had been called by a friend who needed a last minute babysitter today (I hope you followed that chain of events...). I was free this morning and so I took the job. Shortly into a chat with the mom, we figured out that they flew to Singapore on the same flight that I had flown on: July 4th, Houston-Moscow-Singapore. That and they know some of my neighbors and go to the same church that Amy and Izzy have been going to.
All the connections here are starting to freak me out just a little.
After dinner last night, I got a call from a friend who had been called by a friend who had been called by a friend who needed a last minute babysitter today (I hope you followed that chain of events...). I was free this morning and so I took the job. Shortly into a chat with the mom, we figured out that they flew to Singapore on the same flight that I had flown on: July 4th, Houston-Moscow-Singapore. That and they know some of my neighbors and go to the same church that Amy and Izzy have been going to.
All the connections here are starting to freak me out just a little.
Congratulations, you're going to be a mom.
Last week, I got a taste of what it's like to be a mom. And I'm not just talking about what I've learned from years of being a nanny or living with children or anything. I'm talking about being on duty 24/7, attending to every cry and whine, having kids attached to my hips permanently.
Mama Bear went last week to visit her new nephew in the States, leaving me and Papa Bear to care for the children. Let me tell you, it really took the two of us to fill her shoes. (Mama Bear, you are priceless and irreplaceable!)
I came to the conclusion that parenthood is filled with the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. As a nanny, historically anyway, I was around for some of the highs and some of the lows but in the end I would always be able to leave them behind and go home. Meaning that, if the kids were crabby or naughty or frustrating beyond belief, I only had to withstand it for a little while and then hand them off to their parents. On the other hand, I would often miss really great things, big milestones, exciting and cute and wonderful things. And as a nanny, I was okay with the moderation.
As a parent, you are around for EVERYTHING. The good and bad and the messy.
We had a wonderful week! Mouse was off of school that week, so I had some good quality bonding time with him. Plus I got to put him to bed every night, and let me tell you, he is an adorable kid at bedtime. Papa Bear and I made a good team, dividing to conquer or uniting on the same front for whatever each situation would present.
At some point, we decided it would be a good idea to potty train Mouse. On Saturday, Papa Bear took the first shift as I was in therapy with Monkey. We strapped some underwear on the tyke, fed him salty snacks and flooded him with apple juice and milk. One tinkle in the potty and one wet pair of underwear later, I took over for the afternoon. It was a successful day! Not only did I get him to go in the toilet once during the afternoon but also right before bed.
We went to bed that night feeling proud and hopeful for the next day. But you know what they say about pride.
After church on Sunday, we resumed battle positions, putting the kid on the toilet every 20 minutes all afternoon. But no go. Mouse had put up stronghold defenses on his bladder. I swear he has the largest bladder of any kid I have ever met in my life. Monday was no different. On Tuesday, I had all day with him by myself, with Monkey at school and Papa Bear at work. I was determined. And when it comes to kids, I don't give in easily especially when I'm determined. It was a battle of the wills. I sat in the bathroom with him on the toilet for an hour and a half. He had a full cup of apple juice and three bowls of cereal's worth of milk in him, so his bladder was by no means empty. During that entire stretch, not one drop fell into the toilet. By then it was nap time, so I reluctantly put a diaper on him and put him to sleep. Two hours later, he walks down the stairs, looks at me and says "Pee pee?". He had the fullest diaper that I have ever known him to have.
I don't call this potty training experience a failure and I don't claim defeat. It is simply a retreat from the frontlines to be attacked at a later date.
Mama Bear got home on Wednesday morning, and generously gave me the day off despite her jetlag. It was a stressful yet rewarding week, and I have even more appreciation for mothers than I did before. And it probably goes without saying that I'll have a bit of a leg up when the time rolls around for me to have my own kids.
Mama Bear went last week to visit her new nephew in the States, leaving me and Papa Bear to care for the children. Let me tell you, it really took the two of us to fill her shoes. (Mama Bear, you are priceless and irreplaceable!)
I came to the conclusion that parenthood is filled with the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. As a nanny, historically anyway, I was around for some of the highs and some of the lows but in the end I would always be able to leave them behind and go home. Meaning that, if the kids were crabby or naughty or frustrating beyond belief, I only had to withstand it for a little while and then hand them off to their parents. On the other hand, I would often miss really great things, big milestones, exciting and cute and wonderful things. And as a nanny, I was okay with the moderation.
As a parent, you are around for EVERYTHING. The good and bad and the messy.
We had a wonderful week! Mouse was off of school that week, so I had some good quality bonding time with him. Plus I got to put him to bed every night, and let me tell you, he is an adorable kid at bedtime. Papa Bear and I made a good team, dividing to conquer or uniting on the same front for whatever each situation would present.
At some point, we decided it would be a good idea to potty train Mouse. On Saturday, Papa Bear took the first shift as I was in therapy with Monkey. We strapped some underwear on the tyke, fed him salty snacks and flooded him with apple juice and milk. One tinkle in the potty and one wet pair of underwear later, I took over for the afternoon. It was a successful day! Not only did I get him to go in the toilet once during the afternoon but also right before bed.
We went to bed that night feeling proud and hopeful for the next day. But you know what they say about pride.
After church on Sunday, we resumed battle positions, putting the kid on the toilet every 20 minutes all afternoon. But no go. Mouse had put up stronghold defenses on his bladder. I swear he has the largest bladder of any kid I have ever met in my life. Monday was no different. On Tuesday, I had all day with him by myself, with Monkey at school and Papa Bear at work. I was determined. And when it comes to kids, I don't give in easily especially when I'm determined. It was a battle of the wills. I sat in the bathroom with him on the toilet for an hour and a half. He had a full cup of apple juice and three bowls of cereal's worth of milk in him, so his bladder was by no means empty. During that entire stretch, not one drop fell into the toilet. By then it was nap time, so I reluctantly put a diaper on him and put him to sleep. Two hours later, he walks down the stairs, looks at me and says "Pee pee?". He had the fullest diaper that I have ever known him to have.
I don't call this potty training experience a failure and I don't claim defeat. It is simply a retreat from the frontlines to be attacked at a later date.
Mama Bear got home on Wednesday morning, and generously gave me the day off despite her jetlag. It was a stressful yet rewarding week, and I have even more appreciation for mothers than I did before. And it probably goes without saying that I'll have a bit of a leg up when the time rolls around for me to have my own kids.
03 September 2010
Fun with the Web Cam
The boys and I had a little fun with the webcam today. Monkey was into it, Mouse just had fun reading the numbers as they counted down...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)