tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6009744383586622251.post4567534794176674604..comments2023-11-14T11:26:56.672+01:00Comments on Blundering In Besançon: ZanderD. André Dhondthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16225142045250065292noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6009744383586622251.post-7806983637566189172009-04-04T03:56:00.000+02:002009-04-04T03:56:00.000+02:00Hey, you: First of all, I'm so sorry. This has t...Hey, you: First of all, I'm so sorry. This has to be exhausting for you. Let me say, "you poor thing!" (We all need to hear that sometimes.)<BR/><BR/>I've been thinking about all of this for a while. I think the idea of Zander feeling safe with you all, at home, where he isn't "on" sounds spot on. It must be so hard to be "on" all day...friendly, talking, learning in a different language among people with different customs, especially if you're more of an introspective kid who feels things more deeply than your average first grader. He's wearing his French hat all day at school, so when he gets home and can finally take it off, it sounds like he's unleashing all of that pent-up stress on the people he most trusts in the world, the people who will love him no matter what..his family.<BR/><BR/>I know that it's not on the same scale, but I too have recently noticed my homesickness (and general dissatisfaction with life away from my family) is rubbing off on the kids, particularly on my eldest. She'll say things like, "that wouldn't happen if we were still in Texas" and "I really miss Texas just like you, Mommy." I work really hard not to talk about these things in front of the kids, but obviously, they've picked up on it and seem to be saying what they think I want to hear.<BR/><BR/>I don't really have any wonderful advice or insight. Just wanted you to know that you're not alone. You're a great mother, obviously, or you wouldn't fret about it. Zander's very lucky.<BR/><BR/>CThe Grauke-Collins Experiencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03424637485005641829noreply@blogger.com