robinchartier

My girlie is a bundle of contradictions — she wants someone nearby as a security blanket when going to kid’s church or school, but she leaps at the opportunity to stay home by herself. Hmm, anxious about stupid stuff and loves to be home alone? Yeah, it’s the whole apple/tree thing. Everything that I think is weird about her is exactly what I could say about myself. Continue reading Miss Independent

Josh has been back in the US for a couple of weeks now and that’s probably why I haven’t even thought about writing. We’re doing fine, though Camille misses him desperately and mourns that her daddy, “has to travel all the time for work.” Oh girl, good thing you weren’t around for the early days. 3-4 weeks is a piece of cake, especially with iMessage and MarcoPolo (FaceTime is blocked here). Back in the Dark Ages it was 7 months with handwritten letters and the occasional email and I had to take photos with a film camera and get doubles printed and mail them so Josh could see how his kid was changing daily during his first year of life. Continue reading Day to day

We are at the time of year where we have to make plans for next year, even though we don’t know where we’ll be 5 months from now. April 10th, I’ll be here in Abu Dhabi, finishing up spring break with my sister Carrie and nephew Jack. On May 10th, I’ll be here in Abu Dhabi, not looking forward to Ramadan starting in 5 days and whining about how not being able to drink water in public during the day always makes me super-thirsty. On June 10th, I’ll be here in Abu Dhabi, happy that Ramadan is almost over, that we are in the last week of school before summer vacation, and thinking about packing for our trip to California. On July 10th, I’ll be in Southern California as Josh is finishing up his Marine Corps career and completing all of his discharge paperwork.

But on August 10? I have no idea. Continue reading betting on my favorite horse

Josh has traveled a lot for work. Sometimes his accommodations are nothing more than a shack in the desert and a plastic bag as a bathroom, but for a stretch of time his work travel meant a lot of nights in a hotel. It wasn’t the most fun being apart, but I’m reaping the benefits now. Because of all the traveling he did when we lived in Bahrain, Josh accumulated a bazillion hotel points and on special occasions we’ll go spend the night at the Intercontinental or (another hotel in the points pool) and get pampered as if we were high rollers.

He doesn’t actually spend the points (It’s a points thing, I guess. You want to keep your balance high to get the perks), but if he books a basic room he gets an automatic upgrade to a suite based on his status and we get club/lounge access which is the entire reason to go. We show up and bypass the lines to check in on the 18th floor, no need to mix with the riffraff. (We laugh, but once you go club, you never go back).

Continue reading VIP

The good news is that Camille has been doing much better the past 2 weeks, generally peaking on Wednesday/Thursday, but struggling a bit on Sunday/Monday after having the weekend off of school. At this rate she’ll be fully adjusted by spring break and then we’ll get to start this nasty cycle all over again at the end of her two week vacation. Imagine me as an eyerolling emoji and you’ll understand how much I’m looking forward to that.

I was really happy on Sunday that she got on the bus with no tears at all. I thought we had had a breakthrough — the beginning of the week and off to school with a smile. Hallelujah.

I headed to the gym and an hour later my friend arrived and said, “You have a few missed calls from me. When I got to school Camille was crying and she couldn’t tell me what was wrong, so I suggested we call you.” This is not the first time that this friend has come to girlie’s rescue. Good grief. So much for my breakthrough hallelujahs.

“She stopped crying as soon as I dialed and gave her the phone, but when you didn’t answer, the tears returned.” Me, listening to the story: rolling my eyes and sighing. Another item to add to my list 1001 Things That Make Camille Cry.

“So I asked her, ‘Sweetie can I help you with your problem? Maybe I can fix whatever is wrong.’ In-between sobs she choked out, ‘I don’t know what country I’m walking with on International Day. I don’t know if I’m supposed to be with America or another country.'” (International Day is an annual event at all the international schools my kids have attended. Kids dress in clothing that represents their home country and there is usually a parade similar to the Olympic opening ceremonies.)

My friend, a fellow American, exclaimed, “Oh baby! Of course you are with America! You are 100% American. Don’t even worry about that!”

Her fears relieved, Camille’s tears immediately stopped, she sniffed, smiled, and ran off to play as if she’d never had a crisis of nationality. That girl … crying on Sunday over an event that isn’t going to occur until Thursday and stressed to the point of tears about something that is supposed to be fun … hmmm I have no idea where she gets that from.

Later that day I stopped by to see her at lunch and the first thing she asked me was, “Mom? Did you sign me up to walk with America on International Day? Because Aleena asked me what country I was with and I wasn’t sure so I was a little worried about that.” (Um yeah, I’d say that’s a bit of an understatement. Way to minimize, baby.) I reassured her that she is indeed an American and that I did confirm that she was walking with America in the parade.

Dressed in her red, white, and blue! (and tear free today)

With her teacher, waiting to walk with America. She was nervous because last year she walked with Calvin and she was sad that he wasn’t here this time. Ms. Bulluck to the rescue! She entered with Azerbaijan and then came back around and walked with Camille to represent the USA.

Here come the Americans!

Meels and Aleena. Friends, neighbors, and Americans.