Monday, November 21, 2011

¿The Normal Life?

The other night I was talking to my husband and I said, "I actually have time to blog now and I feel like I don't have anything to write about."
He says, "Amanda you have tons to write about you live in Mexico."
"Yes but everything seems so normal to me now." I responded.
He looks at me, almost exacerbated,"Then write about that." (somewhere in here I'm thinking oh gee how boring), he continues, "I remember when you first started reading blogs and when you saw that Leslie from Motherhood in Mexico said something to that effect, it gave you hope. That is why you write is to give those other people hope about their life here. I think you need to write about how you feel that your life is normal."

So here is that post.

I'm a mother of three beautiful girls, who every morning wake up at 630. I get them dressed, brush their hair, make a quick breakfast they can eat in the truck and rush them out the door. When I drop them off at school their is almost always something I forgot to put in a book bag, and if not at least one aviso (message) for me to give to a teacher or caregiver. I then zoom off (well not really my truck is a bit broken and I cant go over 30mph) to the hospital. I park and chat with the garage attendant if I have time then run inside to work. On the way in I say buenos dias to everyone I pass even if they are in the middle of a conversation (I guess Im still getting use to that part). After finding out where I'm working for the day I go and care for patients. At the end of my day I'm watching the clock because I'm anxious to get my girls and go home with them. As soon as I can I run out to my truck, of course saying adios to everyone I pass and from time to time stopping to chat. Their is no real running in and out of places here. I pick up my girls, the older two are always running to me for hugs and the baby loves her teacher so much I have to pry her from her arms. I listen to any report from the teachers and we are off. I talk to the older girls about their day on the way home and when I get home I read their report books and check for home work. They do their homework while the baby plays. Then I have Alana do an English website while Joslin watches and repeats. At aruond 530 the baby takes small nap with her milk while I cook dinner. By the time dinner is ready papi is home, and is welcomed by lots of hugs and kisses all around. We eat dinner around 6pm and then the girls get to play and talk with papi about their day. Bath time at 730 and off to bed for the girls. My husband and I then either spend some time alone doing our own thing or doing something together. Traffic and driving here in the city feels a lot like St. Louis, I have Wal Mart (which I cant stand anymore) Sams (which I love) close by and fresh fruits, veggies, and meat on every corner. We have a doctor that we really like. He only costs us 30p a visit, and he is wonderful with my girls. I have figured out how to keep the bugs out of my house. And I actually like the idea of black widows better than brown recluse. (black widows stay home and are usually in a place out of reach for my kids, brown recluse hide in your close and bed).

On days off my girls wake up and crawl in bed with us for a little snuggle time then want to eat. After eating we clean the house, let them do crafts, maybe walk to the park, or play games. We go to church from 11-130 I help in the nursery and my husband helps with translation. We have friends who come over for Sat night collage football, and my girls are happy and healthy. To me this all seems like what I would have been doing in the states. Although I must say Im ALOT more laid back than I would have been if we stayed their. My digestive system is healthier because Im less stressed, and I am able to brush off things much easier than before. Some of this my have come with age (no Im not old) but I know it came a lot faster because of Mexico.

I barely notice anymore that when I'm a pedestrian I don't have the right away, and that I have to teach my kids to run across the street instead of walk. I barely notice that my tissue goes in the trash can and I have to empty that can every day if not twice a day. And what were the other things that were different living here than in the states. I just read a blog this morning that talked about them all and seriously I cant repeat it if I wanted to.

Yesterday we shopped for food for Thanksgiving and for the babys birthday. Lily is turning one this coming weekend. I still have to finish her whole scrap book and baby book and make all the decorations and invitations. This should be a pretty fun week.

This post is for all of you out their who may be struggling with the idea of raising your family here, or who have just moved and need some hope. It took me three years to get to this point. Dont push it, take things one day at a time or how people love to say here poco a poco. Adopt that phrase and do your best to live it. You can do it and you can be happy here. One thing is for sure though you need a supportive spouse who loves you enough to love on you when its hard and encourage you when you get frustrated. Believe me my hubby is far from perfect and has screwed up pretty badly in the past but this is one thing that he has done so well.

I think thats it for now.

10 comments:

  1. I'm very happy for you. Congratulations!

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  2. Well, Isaac was right, it does give me hope. I can deal with the differences and know we could raise a family there and make it. I do worry about the violence so near to us and I feel sad to be so far away from my family, knowing that I can't take my husband back, not even for a visit. I don't know how I will deal with that, but obviously, you have found a way. I hope I can do the same.

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  3. Great post Amanda. This is a great way to make a whole lot of people feel a little more easier about the big transition we have all had to make. There really is only one way to make it to the point that you have. Poco a poco, day by day, just like you said. Thanks for the reminder and the hope for my future. I think your husbands idea was awesome.

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  4. Thank you for sharing this post-It was just what I needed to hear! I feel like Mexico might be in our future (not sure if it's the near or distant future, but I can feel it). We lived on the border of Arizona and Mexico (Sonora) for 6 years. I fell in love with the people, the language, and the culture (well, not everything in the culture LOL...but lots of it!) But living on the US side of the border is not the same as living IN Mexico, and I have to honestly say that I have some fear about actually living there. (Probably most of it is worrying about our kids, who are 9, 6 and 2, and completely Americanized.) Anyway, just wanted to thank you for listening to your husband and writing about your normal life. I pray if God wants us to be there, our life will be just as "normal" as yours! Dios te bendiga :)

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  5. So true! I always think I have nothing to write about because I've been here so long and everything seems normal. But when I think about it, pretty much every part of my day is different from how I used to do things in the USA.

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  6. I have been here for 9 months now and can honestly say at the beginning everybody's blogs were my sanity! I am now getting to the point of normal and am starting to see this as home. We originally came her to try to get Miguel's Visa but, after everything I have read and heard, It is on hold. We will try to get it because, I want him to be able to go with me to the States when I go but, it is not a priority anymore, not as much anyway.

    Off subject but, did you buy a turkey for Thanksgiving and if so, where and how much? The only one I can find costs 70 pesos a kilo! I am used to 50 or 60 cents a pound!

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  7. PVG- Glad to see your still reading. ;) Miss hearing from you.
    Leah- I have to say that their is still violence here but its usually targeted and innocent people are not often mixed up in it.
    Lisa, lkparra, I will let Issac know his idea went over well with my readers. ;)
    gringation- You remain one of my reminders that we can do this. So thank you also for continuing your blog.
    Stephani- Wow only 9months and your adjusting. I must say you are doing much better than I was at that point. We did buy a Turkey we got it at Sams. If you are somewhere that does not have Sams usually Soriana has one also around thanksgiving and Christmas. ;)

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  8. Hi,
    This is formerly "anonymous" Lori--just got subscribed, so not anonymous anymore.
    Thanks for your blog, and for answering me in the past about citizenship even though I was still anonymous then.
    Hope to hear more about it in the future as it all develops for you.

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  9. Lori-Im so glad you commented again. I was trying to find the comment you had written asking about the citizenship. Basically we got put on hold for a bit, I will post details on a post but I think we are going to head more towards the perm resident thing. Only because it is easier. lol

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  10. what a wonderful post!!! thank you for taking the time to write it. it is always encouraging to read about your life and know there are so many other people in similar situations as us :)

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