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Thursday
May152008
Mishaps
May 15, 2008
I wish you could have been here today when we reached a little Kebab restaurant and two Turkish men rushed to pull out a pink satin highchair and then fuss over putting Leafy in it, until he was all strapped in (does anyone even bother with the straps with their third kid?) and had a large chunk of bread in his hand to start stuffing into his mouth. Or when various older men rush out of their shops to give the kids candy, which is so sweet of them and also makes this healthy mama cringe a bit, since we're a low candy consumption kind of family.
It just took me an hour to write that paragraph, because I'm using this weird Turkish keyboard and it's really really hard to use.
We have had our moments, for sure. There's YaYa and her various breakdowns over the states of the bathrooms. She's always had an issue with bathrooms, so every experience is a hurdle for her.
Or there is the way we went out this morning to do some errands and got everything done- shopped at a little market for olives and fresh cheese and Turkish pickles (of course) - got Leafy some pants- and bought some diapers (I think we need to be more settled for potty train?ng to work) and shampoo, only to leave it all on the bus on the way home. And let me just say, Turkey is not cheap. It was a smooth move, pregnancy brain style. Arg.
And of course, I should be at a Rainbow Gathering right now- the whole reason we came to Turkey. But it was just too hard, there was not enough food (it ?s like a big remote camping experience where everyone throws money together and then a couple of meals a day are cooked over a fire) and so Chinua brought me and a friend who was not feeling so well into a beautiful nearby town. He went back in this morning. We seem to have everything we need, except of course my brain, sufficient patience, and my computer, which is in another town, in storage.
I think I can pray for the first two... Iill just have to wait for the third. And then I'll show pictures... of the tractor rides, the herds of sheep, and the blue Aegean Sea.
It just took me an hour to write that paragraph, because I'm using this weird Turkish keyboard and it's really really hard to use.
We have had our moments, for sure. There's YaYa and her various breakdowns over the states of the bathrooms. She's always had an issue with bathrooms, so every experience is a hurdle for her.
Or there is the way we went out this morning to do some errands and got everything done- shopped at a little market for olives and fresh cheese and Turkish pickles (of course) - got Leafy some pants- and bought some diapers (I think we need to be more settled for potty train?ng to work) and shampoo, only to leave it all on the bus on the way home. And let me just say, Turkey is not cheap. It was a smooth move, pregnancy brain style. Arg.
And of course, I should be at a Rainbow Gathering right now- the whole reason we came to Turkey. But it was just too hard, there was not enough food (it ?s like a big remote camping experience where everyone throws money together and then a couple of meals a day are cooked over a fire) and so Chinua brought me and a friend who was not feeling so well into a beautiful nearby town. He went back in this morning. We seem to have everything we need, except of course my brain, sufficient patience, and my computer, which is in another town, in storage.
I think I can pray for the first two... Iill just have to wait for the third. And then I'll show pictures... of the tractor rides, the herds of sheep, and the blue Aegean Sea.
Reader Comments (5)
I'll look forward to pictures. I hope the time away from Chinua goes well and I'm glad you have a friend with you. I love reading about how friendly the people are towards kids. Sigh.... Many blessings to you all.... you're in my prayers.
I love hearing about your time. I am jealous of the way people are treating the kids. I think Americans need a lesson from other people of the world on how to treat kids and moms for that matter. Glad you are well. Praying for you.
So glad I came across your blog. It has been inspiring to read. You have a beautiful family and can I just say, you are a brave woman.
Turkey sounds like a great place...can't wait to see pictures.
Hello~
I have been reading about your adventures for a while now and I think your kids are beautiful! I have 3 daughters of my own and what possessed me to write is that you mentioned YaYa's bathroom issues. My daughter, Claire, who has been 4 for a whole week now has issues with any bathroom that smells weird, looks weird, is dirty, has blue toilet water, self flushers, etc. I think YaYa is a bit older than Claire and I'm wondering if you have any magical tips that have helped. Thanks!
Sally
Sally- I don't know any foolproof stuff- at home with the self-flushers she would always ask, does it flush by itself? If it did, I would encourage her to just plug her ears, or I would go in with her...
I guess I just have been trying to encourage her that she can do it, it's not a big deal... sometimes it dries me crazy, and now she hates the squatty potties of Asia, which a whole other matter. Not to mention how many of them smell bad. I think it is just a symptom of keen senses and perception, and eventually they'll get over bathroom struggles. YaYa can always pick out what is cooking by the smell, so I think her sense of smell is just sensitive, and bathrooms ARE pretty gross. :)