I've learned a few things from being away from home, settling into a furnished 3 bedroom apartment on the other side of the world. 1. Danimal/Activia (drinkable yogurt) containers make great cups. 2. Microwave dinner packaging (you know, the paper plate/dish that holds your food) makes great plates when washed and reused). and 3. Plastic yogurt containers make nice little bowls for cereal! Who knew!
I was happy and surprised to find how well my guys had managed without me. Laundry was all caught up on (10 days worth). The dishes were clean and grocery shopping had been done. Boys were clean and healthy. They learned their way around the city by metro (subway) and the main area on foot. They even scoped out a location so I could watch the new Twilight movie when it came out last Friday!
I am very proud of them and thrilled to find them functioning so well! I must be doing some things very right for them to be growing up to be self-sufficient, highly functioning boys. But I must also admit that it felt weird to be walking into a home that I didn't have any part in making. They had their own ways of doing things (obviously) which were very resourceful and creative. It made the transition from the the long, tiring journey here much easier for the girls and me. They were the ones who made this easier....that was a switch I wasn't really prepared for.
I'm the one who is used to taking care of everyone else. It was a VERY strange feeling to be looked out for and taken care of by my thoughtful children. This is a good thing. But it also means that they're growing up, and rather quickly I might add. Gavin's now wearing only 1/2 size smaller shoe than his father. I'm trying to just cherish these moments and take the time to praise and admire each step of their miraculous transformation from babies to contributing members of this world. They're pre-programmed to grow up...I know that. And I'm so happy to be a part of that process, giving the input, love, and support they need in life. Being a parent is the toughest job you'll ever love. I just never imagined that I would be on the receiving end of their talents so soon.
P.S. It was a good thing I had the foresight to pack sheets, blankets and a few touches of home. Turns out they really did miss Mommy and we've since been on adventures to local grocery stores, home stores, and recently to find one of the 3 IKEAs in Moscow. Yes, 3! Amazing!
We now have metal spoons, forks, and knives proudly functioning alongside the plastic spoons the boys saved and reused from Kartouska (a very small restaurant that serves soup, salad, goriachi pie and drinks) near our apartment just outside the metro. It was a bitter-sweet feeling to let go of the microwave dinner plates and reused danimal cups when we found a set of dishes. But everyone was very happy to celebrate our fruitful journey to IKEA when we sat down and were able to eat all together (not in shifts, washing in between) on our newly purchased set of clear blue glass plates, bowls, and cups. Everyone helped select them, along with other kitchen and home goodies that we take for granted on a daily basis: like a dust pan, dish towels, can opener, scissors, paper, glue, place mats, pot holders, pots and pans, strainer, mixing bowl, toaster, chopping board, etc.
The benefits of starting with a blank slate in the kitchen were there....perspective! What do I really need and use frequently? Good question to ask when trying to prioritize purchasing. I try to do this at home, but I'm obviously not very good at it. Maybe I should gut my kitchen when I return and only put back the things I know I will use every day. If I do that, and paint the cabinets a lighter color to make it brighter, perhaps I won't find any need to remodel in the near future (to those who have been in my kitchen: you know that this is a huge breakthrough for me).
We celebrated with scrambled eggs, toast, and fresh fruit for breakfast the morning after our big shopping adventure. Simple joys of home, in our new home.
P.S.S. The shopping center where IKEA is has a place called Ashan (spelling may not be right, I'll look it up later) that is like a Sam's Club and Super Walmart combined, only it's about 3 times as big. No joking! There were no less than 80 check outs and they were all full, waiting at least 10 minutes line. The prices were pretty good (much to our surprise). It was so full in there that I think the entire population of West Lafayette could have been inside shopping at the same time we were there. I cannot find the words to express what a very strange feeling that was....very, very small and very humbled. I thought the U.S. had the biggest and best, most options, etc. Having traveled a bit prior to this current adventure, I have come to understand once again that I don't know as much as I thought I did! And that's what life's all about - learning. What have you learned today?
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