Day 3 - Damn You Henriette

Ready.
Set.
Out the door....

...with Mia in one arm, my purse in the other and C waiting for us at the car door. My cell phone rang. It was the Director from C's school telling me school's been canceled! The crazy weather we had yesterday afternoon/evening knocked down a tree in the playground which in turn knocked out all the power in the school.
No lights. No AC.

So, I turned around and headed back inside. What did Cristian do?

"No mommy, tebrots yertank!" (Translation: Let's go to school!)

Nice! Let's just hope he's as willing and excited tomorrow...

Day 2 - Three Hours a Day Isn't Long!

“Ok Cristian, it’s time to go to school!”

Cristian was standing at the door with his lunchbox ready to leave. We got to school and I parked the car down the street. I gave him a quick pep talk as we walked hand in hand.

We arrived to the front of the school where the principal and his pretty teacher were standing there with smiles on their faces and open arms. He looked around and bent down. He placed his lunchbox on the sidewalk, turned the other direction and started walking towards the car. 'NOT AGAIN?' I thought! (What's the deal with leaving his lunchbox behind? I still don't get that!)

The principal quickly nabbed him and took him through the gates towards the playground. There was a thirty second moment where he yelled for ‘Mommy’ – and that was it. Next thing I saw? My son was off playing with some kids.

I anxiously waited for noon to roll around. I got to school eager to find out how his day went.

Me: Buenos dias, so how was my son today?

Principal: Ay, muy bien! He was wonderful, spent the entire morning in class with his peers and even participated in gym class at 9am.

Me: Que bueno! So he didn’t cry?

Principal: No, not at all. In fact, there was music playing in his classroom today, and your son stood up and started to dance!

Me: REALLY? (Yay, Cristian!)

Principal: Si, really!

A moment later, C walked up with his lunchbox in hand and his artwork in the other. He had a huge smile on his face and looked happy to see me. Upon leaving, he sat on the school steps and decided to open his lunchbox and eat his yogurt. I sat next to him and we shared some crackers. It was nice. As we walked out the gates, he looked over his shoulder and waved to some kids drinking water, “Adios a todos!” he shouted. The teachers all laughed!

When we got to the car – I surprised him with a little gift on his car seat. It was a Buzz Lightyear action figure holding a lollypop. He was overjoyed. As was I…knowing that my ‘little boy’ is starting to enjoy his new ‘big boy’ journey… away from home... away from his mommy. (For only 3 hours!)

To Infinity and Beyond!

DAY 1 - Cristian Goes to School

It was terrible.

Today was C’s first day of pre-kinder. I made sure to get him use to the idea – at least about the ‘lunchbox thing’ by having him carry around his Ogres Rock Shrek lunchbox all weekend.

So, we woke up this morning and got dressed. I hyped him up….telling him he’s going to have fun and play with all the kids. He was pumped. I loaded his lunchbox with some fruit, crackers, yogurt, a juice box and off we went.



I parked a bit far from school, to give us a chance to take a nice long walk hand in hand, for his big day. His one hand in mine and the other clutching his lunchbox, there we were taking steps towards a new ‘big boy’ beginning. When we got to the school, he was a bit apprehensive. We sat on the ledge of the outer fence and watched the kids play. I gave him a pep talk and off we went – up the steps and into his classroom with lunchbox…still in hand.

Ok mom…so far so good, I thought to myself.

One step into the classroom and that’s when all went downhill.

He looked around. (Kids playing, blowing bubbles, music going, children laughing, teachers all ready to entertain…you get the picture? It was a pretty cheerful environment).

He calmly leaned forward. Placed his Ogres Rock lunchbox onto the floor and made his way…OUT THE DOOR and towards the EXIT sign. I kid you not.

The director then told me to leave as she carried him – against his will – back into the classroom. There was kicking, screaming and things got downright ugly.

He cried for his mommy…as I stood on the outside crying for my baby.

I left the school and hid behind a tree across the street to see what happened next. Sure enough, I saw the director make her way out with Cristian by her side. She was working hard to win him over. She was trying to make him climb the steps so they can go play – to no avail. The only thing I could hear loud and clear was my son yell back “NO!” with serious attitude!

I left. Half an hour later I called the school to see how he was coping. The receptionist said he was still crying but not to worry. I offered to pick him up, they said no.

Half an hour later, the director called to tell me he was fine and not to worry. He was hanging out with the staff inside the office.

Shortly after, my friend Sandra called to say she went to spy on her daughter Natalia and happened to see Cristian out playing with some kids – having fun!

I felt a bit better. But still, was anxiously waiting for noon to roll around so I could pick up my little guy. I was there ten minutes before the hour to find my son outside with the director and the caretaker playing with a balloon and some bubbles.

Here’s what I was told:

- "Your son is adorable." (Gee thanks, like I didn’t know that already.)
- "He’s very intelligent." (Thanks, takes after his mom.)
- "He’s stubborn." (Thanks, takes after his dad.)
- "He loves to share." (Thanks, again….)
- "He’s got a strong character." (Hmm wonder who he takes after?)
- "He’s very attached to you." (And the problem with that is??)

So, once it was said and done, we came to a conclusion.

He’s hard headed and feisty and very strong willed. He would rather hang out with the adults than with kids his own age. Mission of the week? To try and get his little ass inside the classroom with his peers. I’m giving it till Friday. If he’s still miserable and hates it, he’s out! Hanging with me until he’s well and ready….maybe when he’s thirty??

Sick in the Head

I’ve had a major headache all weekend and it’s definitely caused by tension. (My baby is starting Pre Kinder tomorrow and I’m freaking out!) As always, I used my favorite method of self diagnose - the internet! Here’s the information I gathered off some random ‘self-proclaimed-highly-recognized-medical-site’.

Definition
A tension headache is a condition involving pain or discomfort in the head, scalp, or neck, usually associated with muscle tightness in these areas.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Tension headaches are one of the most common forms of headaches. They may occur at any age, but are most common in adults and adolescents. Tension headaches result from the contraction (tensing) of neck and scalp muscles. One cause of this muscle contraction is a response to stress (my baby’s starting pre-kinder tomorrow!), depression (my baby’s starting pre-kinder tomorrow!), head injury (what the hell was I thinking?), or anxiety (my baby’s starting pre-kinder tomorrow!)

Ok. So, tensing of the neck and scalp muscles? CHECK.

I went for a massage on Saturday. It only made my condition worse. Rather than focusing on my neck area, the lady proceeded to say my abdomen was a bit swollen (no shit, I just had a baby not too long ago) and offered to give me a ‘Lymphatic Massage’.

Definition: (A therapeutic massage using a gentle pumping technique to drain away pockets of water retention and trapped toxins. Considered by many medical practitioners as a premier anti-aging treatment. Lymph Drainage requires detailed knowledge of the location of the lymph nodes. Sometimes done on the face and neck, other times the entire body, lymph massage helps stimulate lymphatic circulation,which boosts the body's ability to eliminate wastes and absorb nutrients. It can also reduce swollen or puffy tissue and tone underlying tissue.)

I’d never heard of that before so, I agreed. She began doing some funky hand work on my stomach. Circular motions. Pushing up and down. Then…began Karate chopping around my intestines. I was not impressed. Nor did I accomplish my Saturday morning mission to relax. Rather, I lay on the bed, while she was practically beating me up, wondering what the hell was going on as I felt my insides vibrate and wanted to throw up. When she finally finished she asked my if I needed to ‘go’ to the bathroom. Apparently, this special massage she worked so hard to give me was supposed to ‘clense’ my body of the toxins. I wanted to punch her.

No cleansing happened here. Instead, I left the spa traumatized, bruised, disturbed...with an even bigger headache than before!

Tales of Cristian

Ok. Can my son be any cuter? I swear. This week has been totally weird for me. It's like, there's been a new revelation of full blown cuteness at a level that I cannot describe. The kid is too delicious for words, really.

So. I was changing this morning getting ready for my day, when my little man stormed into our room. Although he's seen me in the buff many times before, this time was slightly different. He stood in front of me, bent down on his knees and began examining...

Here's what he had to say:

"Mami no has joojooleeg?" (joojooleeg is a cute word we use for his pee pee, peeshulino...you get the point?)

That's when I knew I had to dress myself fast.

I smiled and said:

"That's right kiddo, mami doesn't have a joojooleeg....mami has a...umm...eghem....a...Va jay jay?!" (Thanks Oprah!)

Gosh. Since when did I have to start thinking about discussing the female anatomy with my barely two year old son?

What's next, really??

He's My Cristian-ity!

I finally did it. I finally signed him up. Cristian is officially going to start ‘pre-kinder' school in less than a month and my heart is aching for this new beginning. I don’t want him to go, but V and I both agree it’s best for the little man. He has what we call ‘mamitis’ when all he wants is ‘mommy’ - and he’s happy. As am I knowing that my presence holds such importance in bringing my little guy a huge dose of happiness on a day to day basis.

So, after much hesitation and deliberation, I finally decided it’s the best thing for him, to go and spend a few hours (3.5 hours to be precise) a day in the presence of other kids his age. I know he’ll be happy and enjoy his time playing and socializing with other children. The school is called Centro Educativo Bilingue De Pitic.

http://www.cebhermosillo.edu.mx/

I met with the director last week who went over the program with me. My little man will bring home a report card once every two months and parents will be invited to attend a variety of concerts at the school throughout the year. They will have science class, math class as well as 2 hours of English, gym and art. I’m excited to see him in a different light, learning things that I may not be able to provide here at home.

He’s truly brilliant. And, I don’t just say that because he’s mine. By 18 months (which was back in March) he already had the entire alphabet memorized and knew every single picture in his Baby Einstein Alphabet books! So figure there are three pictures in each book and 26 letters in the English alphabet, that brings us to a whopping 78 words... plus everything else he knows aside from that.

He’s also doing really well in adapting to the different languages. I speak to him solely in Armenian and believe it or not, he’s learned to address me only in Armo and his dad in English. And not to mention, Asuzena who speaks to him in Espanol! He can count till ten in all three languages and has this innate ability to put together sentences using three languages in one. Here's an example of this much complicated skill:

"Mami, agua goozem please!" *Spanish/Armenian/English
Translation: Mommy, I want water please!

We’ve also begun potty training. BABY STEPS. The initial signs of his ‘readiness’ was taken into account when he started tearing off his diaper at random moments during the day.

The first Incident?

I was putting away some laundry when I heard Cristian call out mommy. I walked into the living room to find him standing bare bummed proudly showing me what he’d done with his dirty diaper. It was nicely draped over his sister’s wee head, as she looked up at me with her big round eyes – dazed and confused.

The second incident?

He woke up from his nap one afternoon. I walked into his room to find a naked C sitting on his pillow proudly showing me the remnants of his poop in the diaper he had removed himself and displayed on his blankie.

I knew then the time had come. So, off I went to buy him his first pair of undies…and the ‘fun’ has begun. Stay tuned for more updates as I’m sure I will have plenty on this topic!

His attitude is amazing. Truly. He’s fantastic with his sister and is always giving her gentle hugs and kisses, though at times he doesn’t realize how much bigger or stronger he is than her. And of course, there is the odd time he’ll get upset and pull at her foot or try and stick his finger in her eye (don’t ask, it’s not exactly one of his most endearing moments but I figure truth must be told!).

The kid is just full of energy. So much so I even get tired watching him sleep! He’s my best friend...my little buddy. And frankly, I think I’m gonna have a harder time seeing him off to school than he is leaving me for a few hours.

Who’s gonna go shopping with me in the morning? Or wait by the window and call out “Mommy” when I pull into the driveway after my daily morning workout? Or go for lunch at our fave kiddie hangout - Peter Piper - to eat his fave food – PIZZA!

Or let me dress him up in his not-so-fave Sonoran cowboy boots for the sake of taking pictures?

Or continuously ask to go out on his tricyle?

Aaaak. This sucks.

I wish I could just keep him at home with me, snuggle on the couch and watch his favourite movie, Shrek... for the kazzilionth time… over and over and over...for eternity…..

The Simple Life

He’s eighty seven years old, and still lives on his own in the ranchito. A little house, as rustic as can be, in the middle of the desert in a small pueblo called San Pedro, just outside Hermosillo. Surrounded by Aloe and Pitaya cactus plants, the beautiful breeze carried along sand in the air, just as you would see in an old western movie.

We were invited to his place by one of our good friends, a devoted son who makes the effort to visit his father every weekend to make sure he’s ok and living well. We packed up our clan and made our way over, with a quick stop to the nearest OXXO to buy him a bottle of Tequila, as a token of our appreciation. As we pulled up to the ranch, we were greeted by a rusted gate that was hard to open and soaring palm trees surrounding it. As old and worn down as it looked, it felt quaint, peaceful and hidden from all the ruckus of the city.



There were plenty of people there, all family, sitting on chairs that looked about a hundred years old, laughing and talking and enjoying a beautiful Sunday afternoon.
And then there he was, the grand old man who was the center of all the action and the reason for these Sunday gatherings. He was sitting on his chair, legs crossed. A cigarette in one hand and a glass of Tequila in the other, his face was more wrinkled than I could ever count and his facial hair was as gray as they come.

He smiled at us and with a warm welcome, offered cerveza and invited us to try some of the food that was on the table. There was a large bowl with rice and next to it was the smoked fish. The flies were feasting on the table and bugs were all over the place, the dust was visually blowing in the air, but it still felt great to be there, and somehow, I didn’t mind any of it.

We were having a fantastic time. And so was Cristian, of course. How could he not when there was a horse just a few feet away from him? The man had a horse that was over twenty years old. Oddly enough, he too looked old and tired - yet happy, just like his proud owner…living on the ranch.


Kids were running around and paying such special attention to Cristian. The boys were all about 10 years old and were pleased to have Cristian with them. They played with the ball, pushed him around in a beaten up plastic car and ate ice cream off a truck that I would never even consider purchasing from, if it were in the city.


Mia was also happy. She was sitting in her chair and taking in everything that was going on around her. The sound of laughter. The warm breeze on her skin. The sun’s rays shining to the ground through the branches of the giant trees surrounding us. It was special.

After several hours, we decided it was time to leave. We packed up the car and off we went. Our drive home was as serene and as peaceful as our day at the ranchito.

It just goes to show...all the money in the world can’t buy the uncomplicated pleasures of living a simple life…

Thou Shall Not Make Fun

Ok. So I was at my Sumba class this morning ready to bust a move and lose the remaining 5 lbs left from my pregnancy. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done, not only is it the greatest cardio workout, but it’s also tons of fun – exercising to reggaeton - it can’t get any better than that!

The music started and the dancing begun. There were tons of women in the class, so space seemed a little tight. As we began to wave our hands in the air left to right, I tried to be considerate of the people around me and to make sure I didn’t swat anyone in the head.

So…we’re dancing….'izquierda, derecha, baile baile…..'

Just then, I could’ve sworn I felt a tap on my right hand from the lady next to me. So, I breathlessly turned my head to say excuse me and move over. That’s when it happened – that’s when I finally noticed - the lady had NO ARM.

I was mortified. Not because I was exercising next to an amputee, but because I was SURE I felt someone’s had tap mine. In any case, I needed a drink…..so, feeling a bit light headed, and taken aback, I leaned over to grab my water - and sure enough, my bottle was sitting RIGHT NEXT to a PLASTIC ARM.



I came home and was telling Asuzena my story. I couldn’t help but laugh about my weird experience. Yes FOLKS I know - How could I laugh? But c’mon, it was funny. Anyways, as I was telling her what happened, and admitting to HOW BAD IT WAS THAT I WAS LAUGHING, we LOST POWER in the house, no electricity, I KID YOU NOT! I guess the big guy upstairs tried to teach me a lesson?

I was robbed of electricity...it was ARMED robbery!
I’m dying...LAUGHING...

(I’m so gonna get struck by lightening tonight, I swear)

Where Is My Kansas Toto?

It's been a while. I know.
I have nothing but great things to say about my new life as a mother of TWO. I’ve had a lot of sleepless nights thinking about my insta-family. Three years in Mexico has brought me two beautiful babies and a new appreciation for life. Up until now, I relished the idea of some day returning home - back to the Tdot. Having two kids away from everyone has been challenging, at times I feel overwhelmed, too overwhelmed to put into words. I always use the excuse of being away from ‘home’ for feeling the way I’ve been.

‘You can never go back, only forward’, holds true especially once you’ve been removed from an area for any period of time.

After I spent five weeks in Toronto this summer, I realized many things, and some things that I’m still trying to figure out for myself. I keep complaining of missing 'home' and needing to be around my 'family', when in reality, my family is right here with me everyday, and home to my two Mexican born children, is right here where they belong!

Exceptional weather year round, rows of beautiful palm trees everywhere, friendly faces on the streets, and an endless ocean less than an hour away…why would anyone want to give this up?

As far as my kids know, Hermosillo IS there home. So, when I complain about wanting to be back in Toronto, I guess I need to figure out if being back in Toronto is really what we want…moving forward…from this point on…

Is it the comfort of my own house that I miss when I’m visiting Canada? Or is it the tranquility of Mexico that has me so confused?

WHO KNOWS?

I need to see a therapist.

Maybe it’s a post-partum thing I’m going through, after all, how can I choose to live somewhere with no highways and shopping malls?

(Very easily!)

Holy What?

Cristian’s totally talking now. I’m so proud of my little man, especially for his keen ability to use words and expressions to demonstrate his excitement and thrill.

Here’s an example:

Cristian sitting at the table asking for mazoon (yogurt in Armenian).
I hand him his mazoon and walk away for the spoon. In the meantime, Cristian is playing with the yogurt – trying to be a big boy, and open it himself – without my help. After a few seconds, his pudgy little hands finally rip open the top of the carton, at which point my adorable little son squeals the following words...“Holy SHIT!” with absolute joy!

Yep, he sure was proud of himself!
As was I. At least he used the words within proper context!

"Watch out Mr. Beckham!"

The kid LOVES soccer.

Must be in the blood, passed on from my dad.

He eats, sleeps, and breathes *BOTE.

BOTE: Spanish for bounce.

He Shoots…….

He Scores!

We’ve got our very own soccer player in the making!