Holy crap I have way too much to say.
Between my marriage and my mothering and my personal salvation, it feels like this move has brought everything in my life under the microscope. I’m seeing myself and my family anew.
Have you ever gotten a new mirror in your house and suddenly you realize that you look more/less fat/old blond/wrinkled than you thought you did? It’s kind of like that times ten.
We’ve made some big and unexpected decisions this week. Much to my total shock and surprise, we have decided to put Rex into the German school system (kindergarten screening was a rather traumatic experience that I shall write about when I’ve recovered enough to relive it in print). The village school is closer, it’s shorter, and the kid is still totally brave and uninhibited when it comes to speaking German. He hasn’t hit the Age of Unbelieving yet, when kids start to doubt themselves.
Harrison is a newly reborn recovering TV addict. The kids get one movie a day (VHS FOREVER) and we have no television. I have never liked my children so much.
June…is coming along. We’re learning to respect one another a little more each day. I’m accepting the fact that she’s smarter than me, and she’s accepting the fact that I spank hard.
And me? Maybe it’s my way of trying to ensure that we have as many blessings as humanly possible, but much to my offspring’s frequent dismay, I find myself forcing the children to listen to scriptures and The Friend every possible second. If we’re not doing that, they’re forced into harmonious singing about Jesus (interspersed with bawdy ballads and the Oklahoma! soundtrack). Also I’m threatening them with the Devil more often than usual.
Frankly, I feel like this is a chance for me to step up my game and go from good to better.
Mostly it works. Sometimes I scream at them.
I’m really hoping it all balances itself out when my eternal placement is up for discussion.
We too, are getting rid of television in our family after this month. I think we will survive, but I am expecting grumbling from the troops. I think you are incredibly smart to put him in the German schools system. Number one, it is very good, and number 2, He will be fluent with a second language and that will stay with him the rest of his life. It is an amazing opportunity for all of you. I wish I could go back and choose to do that with my own children. I think the experience is so worth the trials. I hope you love it there. I hope that you find others who will befriend you, and I hope the struggles are well worth the fight.
I think Rex will do awesome. What an amazing experience!
I have been reading about you and your life and crazy for about a year…. and i have always enjoyed your take on life and your family antics….but never so much as your Germany adventure. More power to you. I don’t know how you do this, but I’m glad you report on it humorously.
LOVE it!
I love that, “when my eternal placement is up for discussion”. You’re very clever!
Hysterical. Hey at least your cramming The Friend down their throats. We also rocked out to the Oklahoma! soundtrack, until Colton busted it-the little beast. Enter the My Turn on Earth soundtrack.
My kids are getting a lot of that one as well.
Nice work! I’ll probably try to sneak one of my kids in with yours on Eternal Placement Discussion Day.
Great. Now I have “The Age of Unbelieving” in my head! I haven’t thought of that song in ages! Just talked to my sister-in-law today and they are moving to Switzerland (just outside of Geneva) for a year JUST BECAUSE. (It helps that her husband is a radiologist and she served a French speaking mission, but still…!) Shoot. Mark and I might have to come to Europe a year early.