In Mexico, Spring Break is a nationally mandated vacation for schools–and every year all students in the entire country are out of school the same two weeks. This is our first week of Semana Santa, or Holy Week. For Ale and me, this is the fifth day that we have played Play-Doh, cleaned the kitchen, and picked up toys all before 9 a.m. In between all of those activities, she goes on speed dates with whatever books are lying around.
I am so enjoying my time with this little stinker. She is really coming to life in the language department–although so much of what she says is so unclear. (It is hard work learning two languages at the same time!) I think I am hearing more right now because all she is hearing is English. I can’t wait until this summer when everyone around her will speak English. It will be interesting to see how she grows during that time! Right now she is speaking Spanglish with the best of them! “Mira a mi hand!” she will say.
While I am enjoying her liveliness during our time together, I find myself really short on patience by the end of the day. It is really making me stop and salute all of the single moms and stay-at-home moms out there! Whew! I think I would need to take up exercising or drinking if my whole life consisted of cleaning and repeating myself fifty times a day. On the other hand, I feel like I am missing so much of her growth when I only see her from 3:00 to bedtime. I guess you just bloom where you are planted! Every situation comes with a long list of advantages and disadvantages…
We bought one of those blow-up swimming pools this weekend. Luckily, it is big enough for the three of us. Even luckier, the back patio is walled-in, so our neighbors can’t see us “swimming” in a plastic pool with our daughter. In our defense, it is quite relaxing to just lie there soaking in the sun. It’s like an outside bathtub! (Bathtubs aren’t a popular thing in Mexico, so it has literally been 8 months since I have had a bath instead of a shower.) I told Victor that next time we have to empty the water, I am going to fill it up with hot water and go out to read a book by myself.
In the meantime, I’ve made a point to read my bible each morning as I am drinking my coffee. Today is Day One of Proverbs–starting over is always really nice. I read something new every month! I remember that when I came to Mexico (three years ago!!!!) this is what I was doing. I had started reading a proverb each day several months before I arrived, and there was so much comfort and encouragement in those chapters! Being with Ale renews me with the knowledge that she sees everything I do–and wants to do the same. I want her to see me doing the things that are beneficial, singing the songs that have sweet messages, and praying before bed and meals. A mama’s work is never done…
The Art of Living 