Day Before School Stress

When I set out to write a blog about our year here in Germany I told myself that I couldn't just glorify it all and avoid writing about the hard times.  I know it might seem like I have only been talking about the good stuff and honestly it has been quite good here for us but we still fight, we still have bad nights of sleep (a lot for me, unfortunately) we still get headaches, the kids fall and cry and need band aids, Josie erupts in tears and yelling- often daily (hormones) as does Benjamin (his norm).  It is still just normal daily life.  But, the big things here are different and still exciting and I wonder if we are still in the honeymoon phase and how long that will last? I know these big exciting things like riding our bikes and walking and taking the bus and train everywhere are not going to be all that exciting once the cold, wet, snowy weather hits or they just become the normal for us.  But for now, the big things here still do seem better and more exciting.  Plus life seems simpler without so many distractions which is also nice but I wonder if after awhile we are going to miss those distractions.
In addition to promising myself that I'd write about the entire experience I also made an agreement with myself that I wouldn't worry too much about my writing.  I've never loved writing.  Journalism was my minor in college but once we got to the actual writing (mandatory newspaper staff) I hated it.  The pressure to put out a news story was terrible.  So, I've always felt self conscious and never confident in my writing.  I thought the blog would just be read by our close family as a way to keep up to date on us living so far away but now that I know so many people (and people I don't even know) are reading it I want to be a better writer but I know if I focus on the writing part instead of just the telling part I will stop... so, bear with the mistakes and the grammatical errors. I wish I could write like my good friend, Marjie.  I have been fortunate enough to travel on a few epic trips with her and her blogs are almost as good as going on the trip itself.  Not really, our travels together have been quite amazing, but she really does capture the essence of being somewhere else far better than I can.  Marjie, maybe you should come to Berlin to be my writing slave ;-) .  If you want to be swept away into another place and time click here  to read about our Cuba experience.

And here I am back to my blog and our bummer of an evening before Benjamin's first day of school.  We had some errands to run and laundry to do.  I haven't used the dryer since arriving and I'm loving the fresh, on the line dry smell and feel of our clothes.  Again, this will change once the weather changes, I'm guessing.

Benjamin really needed a hair cut so we headed out.  While we  were there Josie asked to get her hair cut.  She NEVER wants her hair cut but saw one of her classmates getting her hair cut just before Benjamin and I think was inspired.

They both look freshly shorn.
We had to go the grocery store and I can't even remember why but Marty and I barked at each other.  The kids were whining and we were all a bit frustrated with each other.  Just not a great day.  Marty had to get some work done so the kids and I met Julie at the playground by her house in the late afternoon.  In hindsight we probably just shouldn't have gone as it was a tight time frame.  Benjamin had a Minecraft Party Mode date with his best friend Callum and was really looking forward to doing that before his big first day.  We also had to get back home, dinner made and eaten and showers before the Minecrafting time so that he got to bed early enough.
But I figured going to the park would be a good way to let the kids run a bit which I also felt was important.  They had a great time.  Again, challenging playgrounds make for happy and self confident kids.

On the way home I'm trying to figure out what to make for dinner. Dinners here have been simpler but often times difficult for me to plan.  Benjamin is a big meat eater and just plain foods, in general.  Josie is a vegetarian and Marty and I could go either way but trending much more toward no meat at all.  So, dinners are hard.  I figured that since Benjamin loves Doners so much that I would just pick up one for him on our way home.  Our favorite place is right by the bus stop once we exit the Sbahn.  Josie has been wanting to take the bus all by herself and I'm not opposed it is just we are all typically together.  I told her once we get off the Sbahn she could take the bus by herself and Benjamin and I would order his doner and take the next bus.  Well, the doner place was very quick and we were able to hop on the same bus she was one.  She was FURIOUS that we didn't just wait for the next bus.  But the next bus wasn't due to come for another 10 minutes, I felt a time crunch and thought it was stupid to wait around for 10 minutes just so she could ride by herself!  Then a big fight erupted. Lots of tears from nearly all of us.  It wasn't pretty.  While trying to rush to get dinner ready I slammed my finger super hard in the dishwasher door. It was sliced and dripping blood.  This was not the calm and quiet night before the first day of school that I was imagining.  But we pulled together, we talked it out and had a family snug - which has always been our way of ending any kind of fight or disagreement.  Often times the kids (or even Marty and I) don't have the words to say I'm sorry but we call a family snug and no matter if you want to or not, when one of us calls a family snug you have to participate.  So, we family snugged, the kids took showers, we all ate dinner and Benjamin has his Minecraft time.  Oh, and I figured it was a good day to pull out the "big beer" while I made zucchini fritters for dinner (and warmed up Benjamin's doner) which also helped.

By the way, beer here comes in .33 liters which is roughly 12 oz.  Or in the larger .51 liters which is just over a pint.  Having to bike or walk your beer home in your backpack or bike basket makes you appreciate it all the more.  It was a good one.  The beer here is good but nothing like the tasty IPA's in Seattle, which I'm missing.
We were able to get into bed at a reasonable time with just a few "I can't sleep" nerves from Benjamin.