Children are not mini Adults

This weekend has been interesting. We went for lunch at the Diplomat's Bangla teacher's home. She provided us a feast of Bangladesh food, which I found amazing. We met up with all his classmates, which was good.

Problem 1: R, had a crying fit before we left, as she didn't want to go, she didn't want food from Bangladesh, she didn't want anything. We finally calmed her down, at least she was just giving us the silent treatment. We could take the the frowning scowl on her face as long as she wasn't screaming anymore.

Problem 2: Lost in DC. Map was not very clear, and google maps also wasn't clear. Maybe it was just my map skills but we were late. Not to worry, others were late as well.

Problem 3: Not a kid friendly or not an active boy friendly apartment. Beautiful apt, with wonderful artifacts from all over the world. Beautiful and breakable. Mommy's stress level rising. Thank god, nothing broke, no pages out of books or magazines riped and only water spilt in the kitchen. Whew

Problem 4: Sulking R. R would not talk to anyone, or look at anyone, she refused to eat, and was on the verge of tears or meltdown the whole visit. Daddy promised there would be sweets to eat after lunch and so she tried to focus on that. When they came out, it was a rice or noodle pudding with watermelon. OMG, not dessert to an seven year old. Pout more, girlfriend.

Problem 5: The not so silent B. It's one thing to have a little girl give you the silent treatment but it's quite another to have a four year old, tell you exactly, and to tell everyone around him, HE WANTED A TREAT! OMG There was no consoling him, even with the granola bar I threw in my bag before we left.

Problem 6: Embarrassed Parents. How could our children behave in such a way? It was so crazy. Oh my, I should have been more prepared, activity books, food, chocolate, nintendos blah blah blah. Really our children should learn to behave around adult company, right. Wrong. They are kids in turmoil, and they are not going to behave the way we would like. We shouldn't have expected them too. They have never been to a lunch or dinner just with adults.

Problem 7: Tired and cranky parents with two hungry and cranky kids trying to drive home from DC. OMG, lost again. Ok I need a class in Map skills. Maybe I should just buy a GPS. Thank god the kids fell asleep in the car.

I spent the rest of the weekend reading about "Raising Global Nomads". They are normal kids, and this is going to be hard, but in the long run, it will all be good.

"If only we could remember that the outcomes are a success when we are in the midst of turmoil"

I am so glad not to be working right now, so I can help my children through this. Not sure I know how to help them through this but we are together, and as long as they know we love them, it's going to be ok.