The Green eyed monster
I have been resentful of Americans for far longer than is strictly necessary. Foreigners often have a long list of complaints about their fellows but mine were quite narrowly tailored. I was jealous that everyone had family and friends for support, encouragement and far more importantly, baby sitting duties. I was so caught up in my own particular mire that I completely failed to notice some fundamentally simple principles.
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Stumble it!
April 27th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Well done!
April 27th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
“Extra children rarely push parental buttons, I’m not the parent, I have different buttons and so far they don’t know where they are.”
So true! And my kids (usually) behave so much better when they have visitors! Of course there was that playdate last week when DD decided to spend an hour having a complete meltdown, but the visiting kids were no trouble at all and their mom has offered a return playdate
April 27th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Texas is one of those places where one can easily drive 12 hours without leaving the state. My mother was 5 hours away, and she would visit around every 6 weeks. Now that she is approximately 5 hours away by plane, however, we’re going to be lucky to see her semiannually. She will babysit for me when she’s here, but I prefer to enjoy her company during those times rather than leave her with my kids.
We haven’t managed to find babysitters here, or to engage them more accurately. We have been out exactly once in the past 9 months. We badly need a night out. I need to get motivated and come up with some kind of sitter!
April 27th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
So true.
I find that often having other children here to visit is as much a break for me as mine going elsewhere.
April 27th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
ooo, I could probably deal with one or two more spccial needs kids. Having 5 kids, the extra ‘wattage’ is not that overwhelming. Let me ’splain that comment. If you have one of those light fixtures with three lights at 60 watts each; if you put in a 100 watt bulb in one of those slots, it’s not that overpowering. The problem is if I try and pawn off my five 100 watt bulbs onto anyone else but the Bradys or the Waltons, I have a bright bunch!
April 27th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
In fact, my mother lives in California and is, thus, not at all available for babysitting. We’ve, like you, availed ourselves of a “swap” system with neighbors a time or three.
I’ve actually been to a few movies with my husband now.
April 28th, 2008 at 5:02 am
Brilliant idea. I have yet to find many people I trust with Patrick…but I’m still looking and in the meantime I’m one of the lucky ones with a lovely respite worker who comes occasionally.
April 28th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
I am back in my home country and totally on our own. It sucks so I feel for you! Many hugs!