Author: Violeta

  • The Woman – interview

    The Woman – interview

    Violeta Altmann is an atypical mother, if we look at her in a superficial way and especially through the prism of generations raised in a conservative and closed Romania. Towards the end of college she traveled to the States with Work and Travel, in California and eventually ended up working for one of the most…

  • Father’s Day

    Father’s Day

    Nobody or very few people know that today Romania celebrates Father’s Day. Anyway, we did observe this special day with a hike. A 13.5 km hike. As we got in the car, he asked for his gift: “no complaining on his Father’s Day hike.” The girls agreed. Including me. We picked up yummy food from…

  • The intertwine of parenting while having adult conversations

    The intertwine of parenting while having adult conversations

    I’m developing a twitch. An eye twitch. The fear of interruption for some inane reason, is real. If the girls go to the bathroom, the moment they return to the room they have to tell me about their experience or confirm they washed their hands or share a thought they had on the pot. I…

  • A si A’ poem de mama

    In primul sezon rolul de mama m-a împlinit  M-a înflorit. A dat roade.  Mi-a dat un scop. Un loc. O bucurie nespus de mare. Acum, In alt sezon Același rol de mama ma frânge. Ma zdrobește. Stoarce din mine tot mustul Macină grâul, pana la ultimul fir Sa poata pregăti pâine Împărtășirea. Ma țin cu…

  • Parent meltdowns

    Parent meltdowns

    In April, I had a meltdown. The girls wanted to sleep at the grandparents and I reluctantly let them. I’m not sure why I was reluctant. Alas, I needed some time to myself. Why would I categorize my emotional guard down as meltdown? Because I sobbed and sobbed without worrying about who hears me. And…

  • God sees me

    The past few nights I woke up and couldn’t sleep for a few hours. Instead of worrying about stuff, I decided to pray. If I had no words to pray, I would meditate on God. At some point, it dawned on me that God sees me. God knows how I feel, and there is no…

  • Let us not forget

    Let us not forget

    Our purpose in our children’s lives.  To see the best in themTo envision their best version. To build them upTo polish gentlyAnd let them see and feel our extravagant love. When we gently correct Or remind them the millionth time To not speak with food in the mouth Or to put away the dirty socks  And it seems…

  • Self-assurance

    Self-assurance

    I started following this adoption account on instagram @theadoptionconnection and soon after, someone reached out to me with a personal note… Which was so unusually friendly and connecting. Today I decided to listen to this podcast and this adoptee who was adopted in the late 40s, in the era of adoption secrecy because nobody discussed…

  • Rant in blocked care

    Rant in blocked care

    Am I the only one who cares? When the floor is covered with a day’s clothes, mixed with toys, and books… and these are just the big items. Sprinkled between there are lego men and kinder egg toys.  Every single day. I sort through the clean and dirty socks, I sort toys, I make beds,…

  • blocked care

    blocked care

    “If I feel this way, others must experience similar feelings.” I have this unconfirmed-by-facts sense of familiarity with the world around me. It has been a launching pad for courage: “If not me, then who?” I feel nervous or afraid, but the truth needs to be spoken or the action be taken, and I step…

  • Hopeful

    Hopeful

    As I was getting ready for bed, I clicked and listened to this interview. I stumbled on this woman’s blog (Andreea) a few year ago, and it was so poignant, it moved me to tears every time I would read it. At some point I got to meet her mom share her story in an…

  • Perspective

    Perspective

    This is what most of us lack these days. You can’t will yourself into having genuine perspective. Sometimes you have to step out of your familiar surroundings and gain perspective. When Ivy talks over Jackie, Daddy uses the opportunity to impart the awareness of perspective. How does it feel when someone talks over you? Perspective…