If there’s one thing I learned today, it’s this: if you leave your Christmas decorations up until the end of February, your children will continue to celebrate Christmas. At least, mine will.
Archive for the ‘Em’s blog’ Category
Someone still loves a Christmas tree
Sunday, February 26th, 2012Wholeheartedly overfaced and reluctantly enthusiastic
Saturday, February 25th, 2012I am probably harder on myself than anyone else. (I know I’m harder on myself than anyone else is to my face.) I set a very high standard in just about everything that I do and then, if I don’t measure up in my own eyes, I’m very self critical. This perfectionism got me great results when it came to grades and test scores in high school and college, when I was competing in horseback riding or in ballroom dancing, and it’s part of what brings me back to the computer to write my blog every single day. It has some very positive, practical applications.
(Re)discovering reading
Friday, February 24th, 2012I love to read. I have for as long as I can remember. I have distinctly fond memories of the library and the book sales from as far back as elementary school. I would lose myself in books, and I’ve always been someone who returns to her favorite books again and again — I don’t feel like just because “I’ve read that” that I can’t read it again. Reading is one of my favorite things to do when I’m not doing anything — on vacation, by the pool, on a trip, late at night.
Accepting what is
Thursday, February 23rd, 2012One of the many things I’m working on in my life right now is accepting what is, instead of agonizing, worrying and stressing about why it isn’t something else or how to get it to be something else. There are certainly times to work on changing things, but before I can act towards something I want, I need to truly understand and accept where I currently AM, regardless of whether or not I like it.
Lost in Vienna
Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012For most of the week that they’ve been here, Pam & Joshua have been treated, primarily, to a show of the Calle family collective stomach illness. (Fun.) Then, today, Pam decided to join us in the fun. They fly home tomorrow. I suspect they will be happier to see the jetway at the airport than they expected to be. (more…)
Riding the rails
Tuesday, February 21st, 2012Today was Pam & Joshua’s fifth day in Vienna. Their trip has, unfortunately, been interrupted frequently by various members of our family getting ill. Even though Liam is still sick (our pediatrician made a house call today to see him) and Dan & I are still not yet quite well (but we didn’t require house calls today), I decided to help poor Pam and Joshua beat cabin fever today, so Benjamin and I took them out.
Eistraum
Monday, February 20th, 2012From January until March, Vienna transforms the park around the Rathaus into a hugely elaborate ice skating rink. The paths and walkways typically occupied by people strolling around the town hall are made into winding ice paths through the trees. It’s beautiful and looks like it would be a ton of fun . . . if I knew how to skate. I’ve been a few times (mostly birthday parties in elementary and middle school) but I have neither particular skill nor talent for it.
Poop
Monday, February 20th, 2012There aren’t many friends you can talk about poop with. I don’t mean as a mom, talking about our kids — that’s something moms do pretty easily. From the time we bring our little ones home from the hospital, we are willing — enthusiastic even — to discuss all aspects of things that come out of our children: color, volume, timing, consistency. The only thing that holds us back is some sense of preserving modesty for our children, and the desire to not be known as “that mom who only talks about poop”.
Toddling around the playground
Saturday, February 18th, 2012Pam & Joshua must have brought the good weather with them from the States — it almost could have passed for springtime here in Vienna. The 40 degree temperature felt quite warm after weeks where we never got above (or even very near) freezing for a high temperature. This morning, the sun came out from behind the clouds and filled our apartment with light. (Benjamin declared that since the sun was so bright, it must be very hot outside.) The boys took one look at the blue skies and decided they wanted to go to the playground, so off we went. (Which makes it sound very easy, while in reality the logistics of coordinating the preparatino of 3 adults and 3 children, along with a grocery store trip and a broken elevator, are very complicated, and although we started getting ready to leave the house around 9:30 this morning, it was after 2:00 when we actually left.)
My favorite thing
Friday, February 17th, 2012My wonderful friend Pam arrived in Vienna today, along with her 4 year old son, Joshua. I am so excited to see them — it’s almost surreal to have them visit us here. We’ve had a lovely day so far of catching up and talking — she’s telling me what’s been going on at home, I’ve been sharing what it’s like to live in Vienna. At one point, she asked me, “What’s your favorite thing about Vienna?”
An ironic question, but I gave it some thought. At first, I thought of the Christmas markets, and then I mentioned that I love how safe it is here. But I kept thinking about it, and realized that my absolute favorite thing about living in Vienna is the lifestyle.
I love that it’s not just accepted, but expected, that people will put time with their family ahead of their work. The profession you practice doesn’t define you here — people have as their priority their leisure and family time, and they fit work into that, rather than the reverse. The culture focuses on time spent together, rather than on the activity. Life happens at a slower, less hurried pace, and people stop to help each other when they need it — it’s almost a social obligation.
This is exactly what I needed to witness in my life. I needed to be exposed to a different way of doing things, to see how well it can work to focus first on what is truly most important. I’m learning to adopt some of these lessons in my own life (at least, I hope I am) and I’m really grateful for it. That’s my favorite thing about Vienna . . . so far.