When we chose a school for the kids here in Shanghai, there were so many factors that played into it -- proximity to home and work, teachers and curriculum, repatriation factors, language opportunities, extra-curriculars, reputation, testing scores, campus and more. When choosing Concordia, the Christian foundation was an added bonus for us. We hadn't attended parochial school at home, the kids weren't enrolled in weekly bible study, nor did we worship as regularly as we wished. But, what we've found is that this school, and it's foundation, have blessed us in more ways than we could imagine.
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Monday, December 8, 2014
Bring on the Play Therapy!
It's probably fair to say that I have a paranoia in my parenting when it comes to the healthcare of my kids, but we've experienced a few things throughout the toddler years, so I often try to justify my freakish-self-diagnosing habits. Just imagine my Google searches when we had a 6-week preemie, discovered a peanut-allergy, found a double astigmatism, treated clostridium difficile, or were scheduled for double tubes...
There is a new one on the table now: speech and language delay.
There is a new one on the table now: speech and language delay.
Monday, November 24, 2014
Toilet Humor
Maybe you saw how excited we were when Alayna learned to use the squatter... or maybe you recently read about how different some things are here.... Well, this one takes the cake!
Seriously, the back of the stall door had picture-directions on how to use the toilet in Shanghai!
So, which is your favorite stance?
Seriously, the back of the stall door had picture-directions on how to use the toilet in Shanghai!
So, which is your favorite stance?
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Home Visit Anticipation
Many of you read my story about starting anti-depressants in the third trimester of my most recent pregnancy. It was a slow process to come off of those tiny blue pills, and by the time I did, I was talking to my doctor about keeping some on hand for our international move around the world.
To my surprise, I haven't even considered using that crutch. I've truly transitioned to this new lifestyle very well, and have built a strong backbone while adapting so far apart from my family whom I relied on daily back home. What I've come to now realize, after three months of living abroad, is that the mental preparation of visiting home is causing me more anxiety than I presumed.
Today marks just a month until I get to spread my love to our family. And while I'm really excited to wrap my arms around them (and meet my tiny, sweet niece for the first time)... I'm also really scared.
I know... that sounds so crazy, right?
To my surprise, I haven't even considered using that crutch. I've truly transitioned to this new lifestyle very well, and have built a strong backbone while adapting so far apart from my family whom I relied on daily back home. What I've come to now realize, after three months of living abroad, is that the mental preparation of visiting home is causing me more anxiety than I presumed.
Today marks just a month until I get to spread my love to our family. And while I'm really excited to wrap my arms around them (and meet my tiny, sweet niece for the first time)... I'm also really scared.
I know... that sounds so crazy, right?
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Welcome to the World, Kingsley!
Different time zones is one thing. 13 hours apart is torture!
As a matter of fact, the moment she texted me saying she was on her way to the hospital, I was a nervous wreck. My hands were tied. I couldn't drive there, I couldn't wait outside the room, I couldn't get giddy with the rest of the family, I couldn't feel the excitement among the hospital, I couldn't pace the halls, I couldn't check on her or give her a kiss, or ensure that she was okay. I was relying on crappy internet signals for the news. And when she didn't respond fast enough, I was texting my mom.
My baby sister was in labor, blessing our family with another child, and I wasn't there. I remember getting out of the shower that morning, and just crying because I wanted nothing more than to get on that plane. I locked myself in the bathroom, letting the tears fall. I knew I couldn't change it, so I had to buck up. After many updates, I finally received that message telling me it'd be the last text for a while because the contractions were getting stronger. Oh, the anticipation! My adrenaline was pumping!
As a matter of fact, the moment she texted me saying she was on her way to the hospital, I was a nervous wreck. My hands were tied. I couldn't drive there, I couldn't wait outside the room, I couldn't get giddy with the rest of the family, I couldn't feel the excitement among the hospital, I couldn't pace the halls, I couldn't check on her or give her a kiss, or ensure that she was okay. I was relying on crappy internet signals for the news. And when she didn't respond fast enough, I was texting my mom.
My baby sister was in labor, blessing our family with another child, and I wasn't there. I remember getting out of the shower that morning, and just crying because I wanted nothing more than to get on that plane. I locked myself in the bathroom, letting the tears fall. I knew I couldn't change it, so I had to buck up. After many updates, I finally received that message telling me it'd be the last text for a while because the contractions were getting stronger. Oh, the anticipation! My adrenaline was pumping!
Monday, November 10, 2014
Epic Cookie Fail
I stay at home now. I volunteer at school. I attend Mommy-and-Me playgroup once a week. I bake.
Well, kind of.
A couple weeks ago, I received my first shipment and I was so excited to pull out all the kitchenware... we finally had cookie sheets! So off I went to the market to find vanilla and baking soda and flour, and all the other necessities to keep the house smelling fresh and the kids' tummy's full of yum-yum treats. And I did it! I made some of the best, chewy oatmeal chocolate chip cookies ever! I had found a recipe online, because God-forbid you find Tollhouse chips here with the recipe on the back. And while I had to do the metric conversions and I still didn't have measuring utensils, I did my best guess at the amounts needed for each of the ingredients.
Ta-da! They were fab! We took them to a friends' home for dinner and all six kids raved.
Fast-forward a couple weeks, and Cade has a party at school, so he asks me to make those same cookies for his classmates. Sure, I thought, I can rock these again! At conferences his teacher even mentions that they've been hearing all about these cookies for the past two days and the two classes are really looking forward to giving them a taste. Oh, the pressure!
Well, kind of.
A couple weeks ago, I received my first shipment and I was so excited to pull out all the kitchenware... we finally had cookie sheets! So off I went to the market to find vanilla and baking soda and flour, and all the other necessities to keep the house smelling fresh and the kids' tummy's full of yum-yum treats. And I did it! I made some of the best, chewy oatmeal chocolate chip cookies ever! I had found a recipe online, because God-forbid you find Tollhouse chips here with the recipe on the back. And while I had to do the metric conversions and I still didn't have measuring utensils, I did my best guess at the amounts needed for each of the ingredients.
Ta-da! They were fab! We took them to a friends' home for dinner and all six kids raved.
Fast-forward a couple weeks, and Cade has a party at school, so he asks me to make those same cookies for his classmates. Sure, I thought, I can rock these again! At conferences his teacher even mentions that they've been hearing all about these cookies for the past two days and the two classes are really looking forward to giving them a taste. Oh, the pressure!
Sunday, November 2, 2014
A bit different
Hey Toto, we're not in Cedar Rapids anymore!
Everything is a little different here. Thankfully, I met a girlfriend from my building early on who had only been here in Shanghai a couple months longer than I. But, she had completed other expats assignments (most recently Germany), and to me, she is a pro-expat-mama! She shared something that has stuck with me...{now imagine her super awesome British accent}...
I don't tend to surround myself with negative people -- they just bring me down.
People may hate it here. They may never make it feel like home. But a bad attitude really makes it 10 times worse than what it could be... or should be. We only have a couple year here, so I've heeded her advice, and instead we try to find humor in the ridiculousness of this culture.
Go ahead, laugh with me....
Everything is a little different here. Thankfully, I met a girlfriend from my building early on who had only been here in Shanghai a couple months longer than I. But, she had completed other expats assignments (most recently Germany), and to me, she is a pro-expat-mama! She shared something that has stuck with me...{now imagine her super awesome British accent}...
I don't tend to surround myself with negative people -- they just bring me down.
People may hate it here. They may never make it feel like home. But a bad attitude really makes it 10 times worse than what it could be... or should be. We only have a couple year here, so I've heeded her advice, and instead we try to find humor in the ridiculousness of this culture.
Go ahead, laugh with me....
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Advice, please!
Usually, I feel pretty secure in my parenting. I can discipline. I can love. I can teach. And, together, Jarin and I balance each other fairly well. I like to think that we have this role under control.
But I'm at a wits-end with this kid. How do you refrain a child from putting their hands in their pants?
No joke. It used to be funny and cute, but anymore, she doesn't just have the tips of her fingers in the diaper.... it is like waaaaay down there!
But I'm at a wits-end with this kid. How do you refrain a child from putting their hands in their pants?
No joke. It used to be funny and cute, but anymore, she doesn't just have the tips of her fingers in the diaper.... it is like waaaaay down there!
Monday, October 20, 2014
The Expat Life
Today I helped my ayi to understand how I wanted my shirts folded and she explained to me the purpose of the Chinese medication that she purchased for my 19 month old daughter. Soon, our driver transported Paisley and I to the doctor for some necessary antibiotics. Of course the clinic was in the 88-story skyskraper, why wouldn't it be? We saw a Chinese internist (because the pediatrician was unavailable) who spoke great English, but subscribed "drinking hot water" as a method for curing her viral infection.
Later in the afternoon a friend and I discovered Old Navy. It was a three story shopping center that I wouldn't have been nearly as excited about if found in the US, but here, it was no problem to spend over 1200 kuai. And they had trick-or-treat bags -- score!
Later in the afternoon a friend and I discovered Old Navy. It was a three story shopping center that I wouldn't have been nearly as excited about if found in the US, but here, it was no problem to spend over 1200 kuai. And they had trick-or-treat bags -- score!
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
The Reality
Shanghai is made up of 23 million people, a third of which are migrant workers. These individuals moved their families from the farming lands of surrounding provinces, in order to create this amazing community. Today, it's a massive city that was farmland itself just 20 years ago. Because of the dedication and heart put into building the fascinating skyscrapers, it's easy to find ourselves mesmerized each night by their byproduct.
Being a migrant worker comes with many pitfalls. While they have the opportunity to travel to the city, in attempt to build a better life for their families, they also must live by a very different social system. They are not entitled to healthcare within the city. The children must attend migrant schools, which often are led by non-certified teachers, as opposed to the local schools. And once they complete primary school, the students often must return to their home province to complete boarding school -- not an ideal situation to leave your 14 year old child. To top it off, the living conditions are treacherous, often coming without heat or hot water.
Being a migrant worker comes with many pitfalls. While they have the opportunity to travel to the city, in attempt to build a better life for their families, they also must live by a very different social system. They are not entitled to healthcare within the city. The children must attend migrant schools, which often are led by non-certified teachers, as opposed to the local schools. And once they complete primary school, the students often must return to their home province to complete boarding school -- not an ideal situation to leave your 14 year old child. To top it off, the living conditions are treacherous, often coming without heat or hot water.
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