Honeymoon Over

Today was a rough one. I do believe we've officially ended with our "honeymoon phase" of life in Taiwan--that being the technical cultural adaptation term. I need to check my notes, but I do believe that what's in store for us next is a deep plummet into massive adaptation struggles, then gradually we're supposed to emerge into a phase of successful transitions, and then there's something at the top of the graph..., what was it? total victory ?? I'll need to double check.

Because I'm exhausted I'm just going to paste an email from today to highlight the core of the difficulties of the day. There were other issues on the fringes, but here's the main one.  Sorry, no photos to make it interesting. Just picture Julien's big, blue eyes full of tears and mine struggling to keep clear especially when our favorite apartment guard looked concerned and asked why Julien wasn't at school (again, sympathy gets me every time!)
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Hi Mary Lynn,

Julien had a really rough day with not wanting to go to school today. Apparently he was sad at school yesterday saying he missed his mommy and this morning he was pretty set on not going. And so it begins--this was one of the challenges of living here that I knew would come and was worried about how to best handle it. It's such a balance knowing how much to push and encourage and how much to respect their little person fears and give them time to baby step into new experiences.

We managed to walk to school this morning (just a little late, only because we had intended on being early) but he was clinging to me and crying so we came back home and made a plan for what he could do during the morning to get some more courage to go back after lunch. I really had to bust out all my tricks and powers of persuasion! He finally was good to go with his favorite stuffed animal in his backpack, an aromatherapy pad with his favorite oil in his pocket to smell when he got sad, and a list of little rewards he'd earn at the end of the day by being brave and going to school.  I just hope tomorrow doesn't require as much mothering energy--I'll get burnt out in no time!

Anyway, we didn't get back from the post-lunch drop off until 1pm and Theo went down late for his nap and I'm hoping he'll make up for it by sleeping late.

Sorry today turned out to be a bad market day. Tomorrow we're going to visit Ryley's school, but I'd still love to go to the market with you soon. Would early next week sometime be good?

Take care,
Angela