Those days are gone. I can't say that I would prefer for Theo to get up in the 5 am -6:30 am range (although Jamie and I get up between 6-6:30 am anyways - ok, let's face it, I sometimes sleep until about 7 am if I can get away with it - many thanks to my lovely husband for being so nice to me in the mornings!!!). It's actually easier if he wakes up later - that way Jamie and I can get ready and can then focus on Theo once he gets up.
Anyway, yesterday was a big day in a small way. Theo managed to ride a tricycle using the pedals all by himself! It was great! He also managed to eat most of his dinner without any fuss, hung out with me at the neighbours (Angela and Lamberto) across the street, visited his friend A. (who is four years old or nearly so) and sister E. (who is 16 months old) down the street - that's where he managed to ride the trike by himself - and had A. and E. over for a visit later on. All in all it was a great day!
Life overall was great yesterday - with the exception of Theo getting up in the morning. But I can totally relate. I don't want to get up either! :)
Today was great so far although I've had a pretty bad night. I have a sinus infection and couldn't really sleep last night. That feeling has persisted and I feel less than a 100%. But I'm stubborn and I have things to do today, so I will just have to cope.
These past four months or so (maybe longer - I've lost track of time), has been about reconnecting with old friends for me. It has been great - old friendships are still there - no matter that 18 years or so have passed. I love it and feel very reconnected again. For me this has always been an issue having moved so much as a child. I have two very good old friends back home in Goettingen (Germany), but that is so far away and our lives are so very different. It has been nearly 3 years since my last visit - it doesn't lead to having a close relationship with someone, although I do keep in touch regularly. Or as regularly as I can. And I only arrived in Peterborough (from Germany) when I was nearly 15 years old. Making connections at that time was hard - especially given the initial language barrier. And then there was that barrier that was my father. Having an Iraqi father (my mom is German) who does not understand and was severely limiting to his kids who were Western in behaviour (and upbringing I might add!!!).
But back to my old friends from highschool and some from university - that's where Facebook kicks in - it's been great to be able to reconnect with people. It has also been a great way to stay in touch with people. Let's face it, having a child changes things. Maybe not immediately so - although it is a HUGE change to have a newborn. But in small ways at first - newborns are pretty portable. You can take them pretty much anywhere and still see your friends and be involved in various activities (going for coffee, going to a restaurant, etc.). Including going to a movie - although around here they have this thing called 'Stars and Strollers'. That's where moms and dads can go to an afternoon showing of various movies and it's reserved for parents with little ones. It's not quite as dark as it normally is in a theatre, it's a bit warmer and the sound is not quite so loud in there. They even have a diaper station with free diapers and wipes set up outside the doors of the theatre where parents can change their little ones! It's pretty great! But once the little ones are walking or nearly walking things change. But we've managed to take Theo to all kinds of things even after that. This year Theo attended his third Bluesfest and his third Folkfest. It was great and we had a great time! Theo is a great little dancer and at the Folkfest tried to sing along with Tao Rodrigues Seeger during one of his performances! I was quite the proud mommy!!! :)
I want to stop here and say that I personally never minded this. I pretty much saw it coming from very far away and have loved every minute of raising Theo! In fact, I wish that I could be stay at home mom. But the reality is that this isn't possible at the moment. It may never be,but that's ok. It is what it is...but I wish it were different. Which for me was a big surprize - my disappointment at having to go back to work. I LOVE my job! I had always thought that I would immensely like being off on maternity leave with Theo (which I did - I LOVED IT!) and that once that year was over I would be ok about going back to work. I wasn't. I cried the entire way to work the first day I had to return. I mean, Jamie was staying home with Theo for another four months, which was great and wonderful for the two of them to have this time together. But I wanted to be there and raise my son - until he went off to kindergarden anyways. I think here in Canada we have it all wrong. Sweden and Norway have it right in the way they support parents until their children are off to kindergarden/school. Cheryl, our daycare provider, is absolutely wonderful and Theo loves her and being at her place with the other kids, so essentially it's a best case scenario for everyone! We're very lucky!
But I digress; I was talking about Facebook and reconnecting. It has been a great experience for me! And I'm immensely happy and lucky to have reconnected with three very good friends from the A.S.C.V.I. days!!!!
Well, I better end it here. More again tomorrow...
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