Conrad is the best helper, husband and partner on this adventure.
After I put Jaclyn to bed, she naps after noon between 2 and 4, I took my bag and went swimming, with Conrad’s blessing to take my time. “We will be just fine” he said. I love him!!
I met Carmen at the swimming pool and we swam and talked for over an hour. There were only two more people there, in an Olympic size pool. She just got off work came straight there and we splurged relaxing, a year later from the first time we said we’ll do it.
I came back refreshed and with energy to love lavishly on my daughter. When kids get cranky they reflect something that stirs up inside our own selves. We stayed later and played. She bonked her head on the kitchen sink, though I am always weary of its current height compared to her own height, it’s the first time (and hopefully last, as she learns from her mistakes). Ironically tomorrow morning we have a visit home from the social worker. Wouldn’t it be hilariously terrible if she has a bruise… 🙁
Right after that we were talking intensely in English about languages and miscommunication, and she started crying. Conrad picked her up and reassured her that we are not fighting about her. We had a group hug, her arms around our necks, and she wanted to pick Rufus up in the group hug. So we did. There were lots of kisses, including puppy ones. As the evening progressed, she asked for a group hug quite a few more times. She giggled and rejoiced.
Tomorrow is “mos nicolaie’ and kids receive gifts in their shoes. Bunica and Bunicu gifted Jaclyn with a lot of gifts, books, cooking utensils, and a transporter car with zoo animals. She played for hours with them all. I used to receive oranges in my boots and money sometimes, and I thought I was the luckiest girl! Times have changed. She also received a chocolate Santa. She carried it around asking me every five minutes of she can open it. I told her we open that during the day, not at night. She tried a few times, a few tactics of persuasion. But mommy was firm. No chocolate before bed. She would plead and then switch to “I don’t like to wait!!” line. Which is funny, because this lesson we’ll have to learn over and over again all our lives. But she put chocolate Santa to bed, a little slim in the waist as it melted from that much handling. But she agreed to wait. As I kissed her goodnight she said: “tomorrow I open my Santa!” – Yes you will.