Lately, I've felt a little more like a sister to my boys. A sister/mentor I suppose. Not just their nanny, but I'm a member of the family, at least to them. The two often fight over who is bigger, older, stronger, smarter, tougher, etc. But I always win. :D
This morning, at breakfast, Ben asked me why I was bigger than him. I replied, "because I'm older" to which he replied "no, because you were BORN first." I love 5-year old logic, even if its in French.
I've been in Switzerland nearly 6 months now. It's hard to believe so much time has actually passed. I miss my friends & family back home (and am honored that any of you read this), it's tough to keep everything in perspective when you are constantly changing, growing (or shrinking), smiling, laughing and praying. I certainly have trouble staying focused when life is going by at a million kilometers an hour (yes, I've switched to KM, it's just easier :D) Over the last few weeks I've been with the boys more & less. Somedays I'm with them all day (like my old wednesday schedule during the school year), these days I'm the chauffeur, driving them to/from various summer activities and camps. What remains the same is our mornings together. Every morning, whether they have an activity or not, we have breakfast. It's our time together and usually involves a little discipline, a little laughter, and little fun and a lot of cereal. If I have something to do while they eat, often I say "ok boys, I'll be right back, stay here & eat your breakfast" - it usually works. Although I often return to what appears is the same amount of food in front of them. Along with the breakfast, are our car rides. To/from everywhere, always involving lots of "why" questions. (Pourquoi, Mattie?) How my mother did this 4 times over I will never quite understand. She has got to be one of the most patient people in the universe. And as much as I love the boys, and my French is improving, I'm getting awfully tired of saying "parce que" (because) over and over. I swear that I use that word about 100 times a day. They have their moments, like all kids I suppose, when I want to rip their clothes off and scream at their idiocy but then, I have to pause and remember that if I do that, I'll lose my job. And I do love my job. All in all, it's the best job I could ask for at my age, with my education and life experience. I often think about what I'd be doing if I were still at home... would I still be working for SES? Would I still be living with my roommates? Would I still be sick? Would I go out more on the weekends now that I'm 21? Would I have bought a new car? Would I have more or less debt? Would I have had as much fun and met as many interesting people as I have in the last 6 months? That's what Europe does I think, causes you to wonder a lot of wonderings. Would I have been encouraged to find faith again? That alone has been well worth coming abroad, knowing that I can be the same me, but remembering that I have this "guy" on my shoulder, encouraging everything I do, looking away when he needs to (because let's face it, I'm 21 and I'm bound to do something stupid now & again), forgiving me when I oversleep, helping me open up to new people and situations, accepting that the life I used to lead and the life I now lead can be the same without the drama.
When I tuck the kids into bed on the nights I'm babysitting, I always sing them a song. They dislike it when I read to them in English, but singing seems to be a whole other story. Lately, I've been singing "Jesus Loves Me" to Ben, my 5 year old. He seems completely fascinated by it. I will translate it, line by line, as best I can, but he doesn't mind. He knows it's a song about "Jésus" and that's all he needs. For those who don't know it, for whatever reason, it is one of the most simple songs I know, "Jesus loves me/ This I know/ For the Bible/ Tells me so/ Little ones to him belong/ They are weak but he is strong/ Yes, Jesus Loves me/ Yes, Jesus Loves me/ Yes, Jesus Loves me/ The bible tells me so" Those lines bring a smile to his face while his eyes are closed. The boys aren't religious. Their mother, Solveig was raised in the church, and has the background, and in fact the parents are planning to start Ben & Melchior's religious education and that's exciting for me, I get to read stories to Ben that I learned 15 years ago and sometimes it's like discovering them for the first time. I'm certainly not one to preach, but I will help those who seek, find. Simply by answering questions and showing what I know. With the kids it seems to be a good fit. They always ask me why anyway - now I can simply reply "Parce que Jésus t'aime" (Because Jesus loves you") and they know they're special. I wonder if my parents felt the same peace after telling my brothers and I that for the first time....
It's not all work and religion. Actually there has been quite a lot of play as well. Play with the kids and play with my friends. A little shopping, a little partying, and (as always) a little drinking.... On Saturday night I went to Paléo and had planned to just go to the free "village" area, but as I arrived on the bus with my host family (who had tickets and were going inside) my host dad bought me a ticket! So I spent Saturday night with friends, listening to music and generally just having a blast! It was good fun. I saw the band Freshly Ground from South Africa and loved their music SO much that I bought the CD... It was awesome! :D Some of the most fun I've had since I came to Switzerland. I met some new people and ate some local cuisine and took silly pictures and just had fun!
In a little over 1 week my parents are coming to visit. I am SO excited to show them around, see them again and have adventures with them. I will write something a little more "profound" soon, but for now I have crying kids and a stress level a little higher than normal.
Love you all!
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