Once in a while I get notifications that I haven’t had written a blog post in a long time. Writing is my thing, my passion, I love it but then again, there are other obligations, tasks, assignments and of course family. These days, I need to tune in to nature to relief stress and actually block out all the noise. There is so much going on and I am mentally and physically tired. Does this sound familiar to you, too? I guess it does since we all have some type of deadlines, health challenges, family or social obligations and so much more. What have we been up to lately?
It is so crazy how fast time flies. I signed up Petit Joel in Kindergarten this week for September which will be another big step for him and I, I reckon (Kindergarten here is different from Germany! It is comparable with preschool/Vorschule!) These days however, we spent a lot of time outside in the snow, enjoying our first Canadian winter.
We are regulars at the museums here in Ottawa. Petit Joel loves them as much as I do. The National Gallery, Museum of History and Museum of Nature are our top three so far.
There is always time to be creative and write a bit however even if it is not on my blog. This will change again soon. It is always just the overwhelming load of work at the beginning of the semester.
The other day I thought Petit Joel should get a haircut; which he indeed desperately needed [this boy’s hair is just a mess]. So while we are at the Barber Shop I got a bang trim (how weird that sounds!) at the same time which was pretty neat. Sitting next to my three year-old son who smiles at me and tells the barber to not cut off any of mommy’s “long hair because he loves it so much” is pretty sweet. The barber then tells me that it does not happen very often that women get a haircut at his place. They rather go to the fancy hairdresser across the street. [First of all, why would I do that and pay four times the price. Secondly, I just get a bang-trim and the ends straightened out. Thirdly, I don’t ever need all the chemicals and fluff on my hair anyway. Simply, cut the hair. Nothing else needs to be added!] In Germany I would always go to this place instead: Nicole Reiter Naturfriseur! I have the easiest haircut to maintain and I know and believe that “simple” is the best for me!
Otherwise, Petit Joel and I spent a lot of time together; especially on weekends. Since I have two evening classes during the week we are working with new babysitters from the neighborhood and all three are fantastic. I don’t worry for one second when they take care of him. The funny thing is: they are all 13/14 years-old but get along with him so well. On weekends, we also go out and get the most amazing chocolate cake around here at “Life of Pie” [for insiders, MOM: heavenly “warze Kuche” for him and coffee for me]. He is a “Saturdate” for sure while we play Jenga for hours. I even get some journaling/writing done while he plays. Win-win!
The other day it was so cold, dark and wet/snowy. I felt tired but we dressed up and went for a walk. We walked and walked and it snowed some more but I was mindful. I appreciated it all. The fresh air, his tiny hand comfortably in mine while we walked to our favorite bookstore. We even walked by a “free bed frame” too. Well, goodnight, then, who decides to take it home.
While we walked I realized again that we are in Canada. That we live here, building our lives, spending time with great people and that I am studying simply because I love what I am doing. I miss my family in Germany and many times it feels that I am so far removed. But it is all okay. They are there. I am with them. Always! We are together anyway and simply a Skype/Facetime call away.
On a book-nerd-note: I found out about Trinidadian/Canadian author André Alexis and was able to attend the reading/discussion at Carleton University this evening. What a gem of a writer. I loved it so much. Stay tuned for a book review of his book “Fifteen Dogs” soon. And I added two of his books to my TBR-list.
When I came home after the reading, I chatted with the babysitter for a while, paid him and checked on Petit Joel as soon as he left. I always do. I walked into his bedroom and saw his tiny flashlight on. As I was about to turn it off, he woke up and looked at me. He said, “I played with the trains earlier but I can’t connect all the train tracks. I just can’t!” I told him that he has to sleep but he insisted and said again, “Mommy, I just can’t!”
I took him in my arms and said, “Joel, can’t means won’t. You can do whatever you want. You just keep trying until you figure it out. Don’t get frustrated. Just keep trying. It is not that difficult. And if you want something really really badly, you can figure out a way to do it. You can and you will do it! It is just all about choices, my love.”
While I told him all this, he curled up on my shoulder and fell asleep again. While I put him back in his bed and wrapped his blanket around him I told myself these same words all well. “You can” and “you will”. This goes for my Master Thesis and for anything, too.
