A bit about the little ones

I don't post ever, if at all, about the children I watch. I've changed their names and won't post pictures of them with their faces showing for privacy reasons and what not. But I really should tell you a few things about them. Because despite the bad times such as messy diaper changes, whiney moods, absurd demands, and messes there are so many cute and hilarious moments every day that are just too precious not to share with someone.

Since I like making lists I've made a list of such instances where my heart melts or my belly aches from laughing so hard:

• They tend to copy many things I do or say that I never realized were habits of mine. Examples: Roeland says "Oh my goodness!" whenever appropriate and sometimes he even beats me to it. Rosa covers her mouth and giggles when I cover my mouth and giggle about something.
• Back in the summer (reality check: I've been here long enough to distinguish one season from another) I showed Roeland the movie Wall-E and he became obsessed. Then I introduced him to Toy Story and he's seen it enough now that he can sit there with me and go back-and-forth quoting it. One of our favorites is "What are you looking at you hockey puck!?"
• During the FIFA World Cup I'd turn on some of the matches during the day and we'd watch it for as long as their attention spans would hold. That is where they learned to say "miss!" whenever someone shot and missed. Well, now Rosa says it when she is putting on her shoes by herself and I tell her they're on the wrong feet. "Oh, miss!" she says and rearranges them.
• They're still young enough for kisses to be the ultimate fix to anything. A bump on the head. A tumble. A scratch from the cat. And so whenever I get hurt or say ouch they race to give me a kiss. Usually, it happens when we're playing together and one of them accidentally clunks their head against mine or something.
• Rosa has a very independent personality which I appreciate because I was/am like that, but it took her longer to warm up to me. Whenever Robin and Anna are home she still prefers them to help her with things if she wants help at all. However, these past few weeks she's shown signs that she actually likes me. Whenever I wear tights she rubs my leg and whispers "mooi!," which means 'pretty.' Yesterday she held my hand for something like 20 minutes while we were watching a movie. When I go to pick her up from pre-school her face lights up when she sees me and she runs to hug me. Today was the icing on the cake though when she turned to me and said "my Emma" while I was taking her upstairs for a new diaper.
• Roeland has become more attached as well even though he liked me from the beginning. Two weekends ago they gave me a ride to the train station and when I got out of the car he kept repeating the word "no." Last Saturday morning as I was heading out for a run he did the same thing because he didn't want me to leave. Evidentially, the week I was gone in Sweden he asked where I was a few times and when I would be back.
• During lunchtime I like to play music from my iTunes. Yesterday I put on Etta James and Rosa started dancing in her chair and humming along to "It's a Cryin' Shame." I asked her if she liked the song and Roeland, who doesn't usually like it when I play music, shouted that he liked it more than her.

Adventure in Sweden - 9.24.2010

My last full day in Sweden. I tried not to think of how it seemed as thought the days had flown by and I tried my best to remember every moment, which is impossible. However, from previous experience I know for sure that all sorts of feelings, thoughts, and memories will filter back from time to time. You never really leave the places you leave behind because you carry everything with you.




The full account is after the jump.

Adventure in Sweden - 09.23.2010

No visit to Sweden would be complete without some Viking ruins, beautifully designed furniture, and some red houses, right? After two days in Stockholm we took the train back to Västerås where I stayed for the remaining two and half days of my visit. I think it is a common misconception that you've "seen" a country if you've been to it's capital or most well-known city. If you've been to Rome then that counts as seeing Italy. If you've been to Paris, then that is France. But I think any real traveller understands that there is no microcosm for any culture, language, or country in the form of a busy city. Yes, I saw and learned many things in Stockholm but my time in Västerås is what really made my visit to Sweden so enriching. And usually museums tend to be the highlight when I visit places, just out of personal preference, but I think this day was my favorite of all. It had most of my favorite things: yoga, tea, autumn, ancient things, and great company.




Read and see more after the jump!