We adults get so caught up in all the hoopla of moving home that it is easy to forget that your little people are also adjusting. I noticed several things this week with my children that I just never gave any thought.
Here are just a few of those observations:
I have never seen someone as delighted by a walk in closet than Thing 2. Then, it dawned on me, that my now cognizant daughter, has never really had a closet. She has lived out of a wardrobe her whole life. She is thrilled by her new found "house" as she calls it.
The obsession with sunlight is also quite interesting. After being in the land of 3pm sunsets, both kids are constantly talking about the sun. It is finally shining on them and they couldn't be more pleased. I feel the same way.
I have always taken off my shoes at the door simply because my OCD mom instilled this in to me. After having kids, i became ever more obsessed with not tracking in dirt. In other parts of the world (not just Japan), it is customary to remove your shoes when entering a home. So was the case in Poland where you even keep slippers for your guests in your home. This is not the case in most of America and now I have to constantly remind my children to keep their shoes on especially in school where children don't change into indoor shoes.
Most little people don't have a clue about what you are talking about when you tell them you lived overseas. At this age, most haven't been out of the country. So, they really have no interest in hearing about all the great places you traveled to because they have no idea what or where that is. Knowing this, I had a talk with Thing 1 telling him not to talk too much about his experience abroad unless kids actually express interest (which I highly doubt).
What caught me by surprise the most was the pledge of allegiance! I think the last time I recited the pledge of allegiance was in high school. Like most Americans, I also stand for the national anthem which I have more recently done at sporting events. But, I never gave a thought to the fact that my 6 year old has never been to school in America and did not know the pledge of allegiance. You don't pledge allegiance to the United States when you are in an overseas school. He didn't know what it was. So when we were in his new school earlier in the week and all the kids stood for the pledge, Thing 1 just sat at his desk. We were there for his first day and had to teach him what to do (stand, right hand over heart, recite). So, heads up, expats - teach your kids the pledge or at least tell them about this school custom if you are coming back to the US.
I will add to this list as I notice more in the coming weeks. I am sure it will a take a few months to adjust.
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2 comments:
The pledge thing...when we went back Pamela was in 2nd grade and had never learned the pledge. I remembered to say something to her because I always thought it was a weird custom growing up.
You're right about everything. We were so happy about the sun and all the other little things. The first day in the airport, I kept staring at this woman because she spoke English like an American...then I realized that she IS American. She just kept staring at me like I was an idiot.
Wow - never thought about the Pledge of Allegiance. Good point. I loved the sun in Ohio, a phrase I thought I would never say - 5:30 sunset woohoo!! Jay misses Nick - there are 2 new kids in their class- 1 boy and 1 girl.
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