Last post from Vienna (unless we come back?)

So this ia a quick update on the last post:

It's now nearly 10pm and the children are fast asleep. Their farewell parties went well, they both received t-shirts with their names on them and Emma also got a hand-made photo album with lots of children's quotes and drawings. Absolutely lovely.

Both the kids and I received a lot of love today. Lots of hugs and kisses, presents and kind words, happy wishes and compliments. I was able to say goodbye to everyone I intended to and we even managed a last ice-cream before coming back to the hotel!

I've been so busy trying to be positive for the kids and just so busy, I haven't yet felt too sad so far - only cried a bit once - I am still floating on all the love and functioning in efficiency mode so in a way, I can't quite fathom that we are about to leave all this behind... but I know that soon enough, in a week or two, maybe sooner, I will land and sadness and nostalgia will set in (along with frustration at a million new things not going smoothly).

All part of the (expat) life I guess. On the other hand, we would not have experienced lovely today if we were living here permanently. I wonder can one get addicted to this kind of life with arrivals and departures, intense reunions and good-byes and relatively short commitments? Oh but that's another subject... Nightie night!

Last everything in Vienna

Last coffees and lunches, last playdates, last Genusspfads at the market, last burgers at Orlando's, last Pilates class, last drop off at Kindergarden, last proseccos, last gathering of fond memories here...

Tonight is our last night in Vienna.
I'm now off to pic up the kids at Kindergarden here for the last time... (I hope their goodbye parties went well) then off to the park and perhaps a last ice-cream on Tuchlauben... Oh! So sad!!!

Our moving team

Jeeves please!

Emma had trouble getting her rain boots off yesterday and as soon as his own shoes were off, William jumped to help her. They thought their heartfelt grunts were hilarious as they took turns pulling on the boot. It was really a wonderful sight!

Sunday morning

Feeding the ducks

Aren't the park and pond gorgeous?!

the count-down has begun!

The countdown has started! This time next week the packers will be here! and this time in two weeks will be out last full day in Vienna and Emma will have her going away party at the kindergarden. Then on Saturday October 1st we fly off to Athens where Steph and our furniture will hopefully be waiting.

At times, I have a hard time really comprehending it all, and at others I just want to drink in all of Vienna while I still can.

It's hard thinking that my now home will no longer be my home in about 10 days. I know I go through a process of feeling slighty homeless and un-rooted before I can feel at home again in my new home.

Emma and I play a game where we list all that will be new and all that will be the same; new friends, news school, same Mummy, Daddy, William, Emma, new car, new house, same toys, same furniture... you get the picture. This is my attempt to prepare her for what is coming and so far she seems to be taking it well. In fact a couple of her kindergarden friends' Mums have told me that their son/daughter was very sad, crying, upset about Emma's departure and asked when they would see her again. Interestingly enough Emma has not yet had this reaction or question. I am not sure whether this is good or bad.

I asked her favorite kindergarden teacher to sound the waters with her to see what she was feeling and she told me that Emma was generally quite open about the move if apprehensive about the new kindergarden and friends.
Timing wise it's a shame for William too - he now feels so happy and at home in the kindergarden here. And it's lovely that they are both in the same one and can see each other at break time and when they are outside. In Greece, they will not be in the same Kindergarden at least for the first year.

I am glad that Emma and Will's aunt, Tata-yéyé, will be with us when we hit the ground in Greece to soften the blow and make it more fun and also that Emma has met some of the neighborhood children already. Hopefully this will soften the blow.
The "but when are we going home?" is the question I find the most daunting because I also find making a new home difficult.

Friday morning playing

Will's favorite kitchen cupboard

Still sleepy Emma and the lego doll house

Emma's improvised jam session

Here's the full session

Singing Emma

Dear So and So

Dear So an So handbag designer,
how is it that you have not yet figured out that making the inside of handbags black, dark grey or brown makes it IMPOSSIBLE to find anything! Please consider using bright pink, yellow, orange, green, silver or tobacco colored lining and do your clients a favor.
Thank-you,
me

***

Dear So and So packaging designer,
how about making it clearly visible on your packaging when the lotion is a body lotion and NOT a baby bath gel. Or when your butterkeks are "diät" instead of regular. Distinguishable packaging will not dilute your brand equity or image, only make your buyers and users happier instead of frustrated. Plus you might have an accurate idea of what product is actually being bought because we like it and not by accident.
Yours, with gratitude,
me.

***

Dear So and So (you probably won't recognize yourself),
When I say "no" or "not now" -although the reason might not be obvious to you, please respect my answer. You do not know it all. I am anything but unhelpful but I am not at your service either and I do have a life. Not being heard and respected is what makes helpful people become unhelpful.
Truly,
me

***

Dear Emma-sweetie,
When I insist you wear socks and long-sleeves in the morning it's because it's now 12° outside and your nose is sniffy. I know you like your summer dresses but it's no longer summer and it's too cold. Please understand I do not want to torture your arms and feet only keep you warm and healthy.
Love,
Mom


Dear Emma-chérie,
Could you please make an effort to dress in less than 45 minutes in the morning? We would then have more time to have breakfast together instead of me sitting through breakfast with Will and then rushing it with you (while trying to stop Will from climbing through windows/into the dryer/ dismantling furniture or emptying the bookshelf).
I hope you nevertheless have a happy day at school.
Love,
Mom

La rentrée or the moving blues

Today was the first day of school here (la rentrée in French means the start of the new academic year around which also marks the beginning of the French political season) administration and so there was absolutely NO parking spots to be had near the kindergarden.
Plus the actual street the kindergarden is on was absolutely blocked with traffic and an empty tram that could not move ahead due to a very badly parked SUV. Then the fire-brigade showed up and had to move it. We had to park a mile away and actually ended up walking a longer distance than if we had walked from home.
Anyway... what I wanted to write about was that it's the first day of school and there are little kids running around everywhere still slightly tanned, carrying new school bags, books, pencil cases and sprouting large smiles. Little groups of 16 year old boys and girls in shorts and large handbags. Umph. I am not nostalgic of being 16 even if I am nearing 40! It's just that I used to love the first days of school and buying all the new stationary stuff and catching up with friends and kids form school again.

And now -although my kids are not school kids yet- I am wondering whether we will be able to order the last CD of kindergarden pics and reading about parent evenings and kindergarden outings that will take place when we will be gone (to Greece) and all this will be going on here without us. Isnt' that weird? And I don't mean that in a we-are-the centre-of-the-world-how-can-it-all-go-on-without-us? way. Just that we have been to the parents evening every October for the past 3 years and now we won't. We will be in Greece. Probably trying to find a decent coffee and a parking space. And not understanding anything.

Ok, that was my grumpiness for today.

On the happy side, we had a lovely week-end visiting friends in their new house
and enjoying the Montmartre party at Turkenschanzpark (we usually miss this due to our habitual week in Croatia).


William had his first ever train ride and hot-dog (!!) and Emma got a new sun-dress which I love and jumped her heart out.



that's all for today!

Nearly stepped on some angels

Yesterday as I was walking down the street I came across some angels. No, really, angels at my feet.




I wondered who had placed them there and what their story was. In any case, it was kind of neat to come across them like that.

To swim or not to swim and managing expectations

Yesterday was Emma's first swimming lesson (of 10 as the course takes place every week-day over 2 weeks). Parents are not allowed to stay so that the teacher is the sole authority & the kids concentrate on the task at hand.

For the first two lessons they ask you to stay in (or near) the building so that you can take your kid home or intervene should things go totally south.

No call while Will and I walked around the neighborhood; 10, then 15, 20 and 30 minutes went by. I began to feel confident that Emma was doing fine despite the fact that on Saturday she had refused to swim when we went to the nearest public pool with a friend of hers.

10 minutes before the end of the lesson I went up to the waiting room and then to the changing room with the other parents. Emma was not long.

She came through the door and told me she had not swum. The swimming teacher confirmed that she had spent the hour sitting on the edge of the pool, watching, despite repeated invitations to join the others in the water. "Keine Chance" were his exact words.
Plonk. (the sound of my heart sinking)

I was really sad that she had not enjoyed herself and participated. Then as I drove home and rushed to make dinner quickly so that we would still make Will's bed-time I began to feel extremely annoyed at Emma. Tout ça pour ça (all that for nothing as they say in French).

I know this is me being impatient and frustrated and not her fault. My expectations, my hopes. She was fine. She even told her Dad that she had been swimming. I told her it was ok and that we would give it another go. She could not care less. She just wanted dinner to be served and to play with her dolls.

I realize it's not going to help if I push her. But in all honesty I was angry that she had not even given it a go.

This is a recurring thing; both Steph and I are impatient and quick. We tend to want to move on with things. And because Emma is such a big girl in many aspects as well as enthusiastic and bright we do expect a lot of her. Also, especially initially, she seemed even more mature in comparison to William. But Emma likes to take her time, gaze into space, walk slowly. Stall. Make excuses. Ask us to wait. Tell us she "just has to feed (my) baby".

Emma needs to take her time. She walked at 18 months. It took her ages to poo in the toilet and not her nappy. Honestly, I was despairing. At gym class (Turnen) it had been the same. She had spent lots of time watching kids first and only then did she timidly try herself. Often screaming for help in the middle or saying she could not do it. Only encouragement, loads of praise and patience helped. And the fact that she was doing the class with friends meant she truly enjoyed her gym classes. Unfortunately, no children of her kindergarden are doing the swimming course at the same time as her.
Recently she went to the forest on a school trip and screamed when she realized the ground under her feet was soft. She asked to be carried. Eventually her kindergarden teacher calmed her down and convinced her she could not be carried. But she did tell me that Emma had seemed panicked. She totally dislikes leaving her comfort zone.
I have to learn to deal with my disappointment and not make her bear it. She has her own timing - however annoying it may be to me, I have to respect it and let her learn at her pace. Somehow I have to keep in mind that she is a little girl and that she wants to stay little - which is ok - for some things, a little longer than I would like. I have to respect that.

I must say though, especially in the light of this last episode, that I am really apprehending the move and the changes it will bring and that I will have to somehow manage.

As for the swimming, I think we will try again tomorrow and hopefully she will feel more confident. If not, to hell with it, we have other things to do and enjoy in Vienna before we leave in a month.

Fun at the park

Emma

Emma art

Last Spring Emma drew some faces. I thought they were brilliant so I framed and hung them on the wall. (Click on the pic to enlarge and get a better look)

Don't they look terrific?!

Emma's fourth birthday

Emma has celebrated her birthday 3 times this week; once in kindergarden with her friends and teachers on Wednesday (strawberry cake), once with Will, Steph and I yesterday at home with a home-made chocolate cake and again today at the Family Fun park with friends and their parents with a strawberry cake, a mountain of nuggets and fries and lots of fun!
She is very happy about this and I am really glad we stayed in Vienna for her birthday this year so she could celebrate it with her friends. I think we managed to make it all about her this year and I think that's exactly as it should be. ;-)

Tomorrow morning really early we head off to Geneva!

Here are some pics of Emma's birthday celebrations:

Chocolate cake for breakfast! Yeah!

Discovering her new IKEA kitchen

and her pram, nearly as big as Mummy's

here she is wowing at her impressive candle

William enjoys the balls at the family fun park


after the cake, chicken nuggets and fries and a huge bowl of ketchup!
Emma and friends eating

That little boy in the blue t-shirt is Will enjoying the fries ;-)

Emma's last day as a 3 year old

Back from Greece; the good, the bad and the ugly

We are back from Greece and in Vienna it's pouring and windy and a mere 15°C. Quite a shock after the near 40° we experienced in Athens for 5 days. But -although it complicates things with the kids- the weather is quite in sync with my mood and the a/w clothing catalogs that are already landing in my mailbox.

I 'm in the mood for autumn. I am liking being inside while the rain drizzles down the water pipe and tap taps on our outdoor table. I am liking wearing my thin cotton scarf and feeling my feet are safe and dry in my big bright rain boots. Right now, I don't want to live in a permanently hot & sunny climate. (Is it rejection time already? )

I think a lot of this is a back-lash-mood-reaction to our visit to Athens. Here it is in a nutshell.

The good:

• the house will be done in time for us to move into and will be a nice place I think
• The neighborhood is green, friendly and there are lots of children
• Our neighbors are very helpful, hospitable and open-hearted
• We have our own little swimming pool which will literally save us from drying out on summer afternoons
• People love children
• The food is yummy
• I probably won't be needing to go into town very often and can manage on the neighborhood shops (still driving distance though)
• We already have a Greek pediatrician who speaks English and does house calls (see "the ugly" below)

The bad:

• kids rule! To the point of being utterly spoiled. Regular bed-times (or anything regular and routine-like for that matter) are not done. Ugh.*
• Emma and William will not be attending the same kindergarden and then when Will could move to Emma's, Emma will be moving on to another building, possibly another school. This means two school runs (and/or two buses)
• Mummies provide lunch for everybody (even hubby) in lunch-boxes!
• I can say good-bye to nice little shops/boutiques of the 18th bezirk and hello to air-conditioned, huge Malls

The ugly:

• I was totally sick to my stomach during the first 24hours of my trip
• then Steph was ill
• then William got sick and had 39° fever until yesterday
• we passed the virus on to the kids of the family we were staying with
• Emma learned to eat cookies for lunch and honey sandwich for dinner walking around or sprawled in front of the TV which was blasting cartoons as of 7am for her and our hosts' kids
• Emma loved this new modus vivendi

* perhaps I should put this one in the ugly. No routine is horrible as far as I am concerned. My kids absolutely thrive on routine and I love knowing the time of lights out is the same every night and that after that I (we) have my (our) evening time off...


Here are some pics taken by our host during our stay.

















As you can see, we don't look unhappy. I hope that my current lack of enthusiasm is at least in part due to having experienced all this while ill, away from home at nearly 40° C. ...

Wishcasting Wednesday: what I ask for

Today I discovered Soul Biographies and in particular watched this beautiful film. An inspiring woman. Truly. Not the fake "ah, life is GREAAAT!" Truly seemed so happy and at ease. Light as a feather in herself.

On this blog, today is Wishcasting Wednesday. And today's prompt is "What do you wish to ask for?"

Well... I wish to ask to know what my deep desires are. How am I going to make them come true if I don't know what they are?

We are moving to Greece in a couple of months - in fact we are heading down there on Friday to visit kindergarden's and the "home to be" - and our kids will soon be wrapped up in a new language, making new friends and we will all be learning about living in Athens.

So a thought comes to mind. With the moving comes a chance to take classes. Language classes yes, but also something that might open other possibilities. Fact is though, I have no idea what area to explore. I so want to know what my passion is, or my "thing" is, or what I am truly good at... but in all honesty, right now, I have no idea. It's just all so scattered.

The trouble with moving around so much, for me, is that a lot of time and energy is spent on getting used to /getting around / meeting new people / finding the new dentist/ pediatrician / hair dresser that will not put me through misery. And then, usually, just as I start to feel that I am now comfortable enough in a city to explore me, well, it's time to move. I am hoping this time, the settling in phase will take less time and that I will be able to find what I really want to do with my life. What do I wish to do with me?
So that's my wish today; I wish to ask to know my purpose in this life.

My sweet funny faced boy