Skip to main content

Adaptability, realm of the young?


The boys sleeping under a mosquito net, Trinidad, July 2016.

This is just a short post about an epiphany I had coming back from my recent trip to Trinidad.

Prior to going to Trinidad with my sons, and in planning the trip and the schedule, I'd been concerned about the length of time we would stay and how the boys would adapt. The longest they'd ever been there was 10 days. This trip was considerably longer. I felt I could adapt, after all, I grew up there, but them?

How would the boys handle the heat? (There was no central air conditioning where we would be staying, only air-conditioning in the bedrooms.)
What would they be able to eat? (Food was typically spicy and rich, full of fat, salt and sugar and unfamiliar in general.)
What about the schedule? Irregular bedtimes, wakeup and activities. The constant rotation of visitors and visiting.
Would they sleep comfortably?
The mosquitoes! And Zika! And Chikungunya!
And on and on.

2 weeks of disruption I felt they could manage,  but 5?

In the end, the boys took it in stride, they just went along with the flow. They ate what there was, they tried different things, they slept pretty well and even though they complained about the heat, it didn't stop them from doing what they wanted to do (gaming) and none of us contracted any diseases. Once we were back home, everything was back to normal. Quick recovery.

Me? Not so quick recovery. I've been back in Austin now about 3 weeks and I am still recovering while the boys have been alright the whole time.There is a lesson in there somewhere.

**This site uses cookies **

 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Best Groom's Response Ever!

20 Years ago "On behalf of my most beautiful wife, Sally and myself, I'd like to thank you all for being here today. Special thanks go to all those of you who have worked very hard to make and arrange this event and to those of you who have traveled very long and very far to be here today. You may have noticed, on the outside, Sally and I are very different and have different backgrounds; but on the inside, Sally and I are very alike. We can relate to how each other thinks and feels - which is why we are here today. So, on behalf of my wife Sally and myself, I would like to thank Allah for bringing two like souls together despite the outer appearances, and I would also like to thank both our families for accepting the new family member so kindly despite the outer differences." True then as it is now. The paper he is holding? My hubby's hand-written notes from 20 years ago: But you want wedding pictures right?  Outside the mosque, be...

Job Search2: Networking etiquette..

On which I have a few ideas.  As my husband keeps telling me, I won't get a job by spending hours in front of the computer submitting applications to online job postings.  The best use of any job-seeker's time is spent talking to friends and acquaintances and letting them know that you are looking for a job and what your skills and interests are. So here is what I found tricky about networking: How hard to push?  Working parents are busy, so if I asked a friend, who is a working parent, about a position I had seen at their company, do I ask a second time? How soon after? And what if there is another position - do I talk about that too?  If that friend is very enthusiastic about getting more information for me on a post then I hear nothing, what then?  Is it realistic to think they'll get back to me?  I find it difficult to broach the topic again.  I might ask a second time but for me there is no third time. What do I trade in return? In the net...

About those peeps

I've previously blogged about my state trying to find a group of girlfriends here in Austin , so I thought I'd provide an update on my quest to surround myself with peeps who are actually available to go to the neighbourhood coffee shop and sit down and chat.  Well, I had made friends with another mom whose son had just started at Lucas' new school.  We would try to have a chat, without children, once a week. Well, they decided to move to Utah after the first term.  Another mom I met through my mom's group who I would meet up separately with and actually have a conversation about what is going on in life, moved too. Not out of state, but far enough where I can't meet her for coffee either.  Hmmmmm. So, my plan has been to crash other peoples' socials.  I went to a playgroup I didn't belong to but was being hosted by a neighbour, that worked out just great!  A little social time, play time for Liam.  I invited another neighbour out to see a movie...on...