freezing temperatures

Is it too much to ask my husband to supply me with daily weather reports? I mean, he already spends most of his lucid, free time browsing websites about windsurf equipment, windsurf races, wind, and weather. He always knows the changing weather reports from all the main channels and sites.

Also, since I have very expressly communicated my switching to scooting to work instead of car, you'd think he would advise me when it is supposed to rain, snow, or go below 0. I mean, really!

which unhappiness is worse?

Last night at dinner with hubby, we were discussing the universal difficulty of raising small children while withstanding the pressure of aging parents. (One of the reasons for my conviction that people should have more than one child.) We were bemoaning the state of mind of both our mothers, and how miserable they must be with their respective problems, etc. But I realized, that if I had to choose, I would rather suffer my mother's unhappiness than my mother-in-law's. Marisa spent her life raising kids who don't speak to each other, stood by the side of a husband who never treated her that well, and is now alone, with no purpose in life. Add to that she never finished middle school, has no hobbies, interests, or pursuits, nor does she have any interest in starting any. She is also unable to change: she doesn't trust change, doesn't like it, doesn't want it, doesn't even consider it an option in anything. And yet at 75, she is built like an ox, and works from sun-up to sun-down. But what kind of life is that?

quiet house

Something very rare in my home. But I lived it for a few minutes this morning, when I was up before everyone else. For months I woke up before everyone else to go to work, but it was dark, and I was busy getting ready, etc. But since last night I slept downstairs, and hadn't prepared my clothes for this morning, when I came upstairs, there was nothing I could do but relish the silence and quiet.

It didn't last long. That feeling of calm and peace has become unfamiliar, and of course, I couldn't handle it. I busied myself getting breakfast ready.

Life List

I am going to make a life list, things I want to do before I die. I want it to have 100 things on it. Here's the start:

*take a sewing course *learn to play violin *go sky-diving *go to the Maldives *become a "popular" (i.e., successful) published writer *learn German fluently *learn Arabic *learn to water start and windsurf well *go wakeboarding *live in a Spanish-speaking country *get a Master's degree *read War and Peace *go scuba-diving *compete in the Marinera Competition in Peru *learn to surf *swim with dolphins *get a convertible car *take a pottery course *use a pottery wheel *learn to flip my hair when dancing salsa *become an awesome salsa dancer *teach my kids to love themselves *teach my kids to love everyone else

To be continued...

mommy friends

One of my new year's resolutions (I don't usually make new year's resolutions, but this year I decided I would actually improve things in my life!) is to cultivate valuable friendships. Screw the fair-weather, idiosyncratic, moody people at TASIS. Pick a few kind souls and invest in them. Form kind, warm, generous relationships with people that are kind, consistent, real, true.

I also would like for them to be other mothers with small children. I crave like-minded, like-situational, like-interested mothers.

This weekend, I have two playdates! Tomorrow, with my Pugliese neighbor who has a 21-month-old daughter (and who is even more desperate for company than I am). Sunday, with a former colleague (Puerto Rican, yeah!) whose husband likes sailing (potential couple friend!).

Yeah for determining my first resolution!

Now I only need to lose 10 kg.

"Maaammmmaaaa"

Sebastian and Lucas are so happy to have me back, and I am so happy to be back. They've grown so much in just 9 days away. Sebastian speaks more clearly, and has better inflection. He also seems to be more at peace, independant, enjoying reflecting and being in his own little world. Lucas's hair grew, and he runs with more confidence. He also plays more, and the most incredible of all, is that their bond has strengthened. They fight less, and enjoy each other's company more. Sebastian doesn't go ape-shit when Lucas grabs his toy. But Lucas grabs Sebastian's toys less! And Lucas gives cheese to Sebastian at mealtime, even though he LOVES his grana. They act more like two little friends, than like rival siblings. It is just amazing!

Baby no. 3

After 7 days away from my beautiful little darlings, I was looking at pictures of them on my laptop, teary-eyed and called Tiziano to say that we absolutely HAD TO create another little gem (of course, in a few years yet). After returning from my work week away, I spent 3 hours alone with them, the desire for a third dissipated.