The Last
Today is the last day of a most unique experience for these kiddos. I've encouraged Isaac to write down his thoughts in his journal because, mostly, this has been HIS experience. I can't speak for Isaac or Juliet here but I do have my own thoughts and observations I'd like to share as a Mom doing this international schooling thing but I feel compelled to note that I recognize the most important feelings are theirs.
#1. I'm grateful. As a parent you want "awesome" to happen for your kids. And while it hasn't always been good and people haven't always been easy, it has been exactly what it is: four years in a different culture, learning another language fluently, making friends "across the world", and seeing life through a different cultural lens. Priceless and life shaping.
#2. It has been HARD. Don't let the exotic pictures full you. School in a different country, foreign to you and where you are foreign is HARD. Especially as the kids get older. Hopefully going forward he will remember all that he learned and the cool things he experienced.
#3. HARD builds strength. I have seen Isaac grow a lot. When I wanted to pull him out of school, save him from the stress he chose to stay. Two times I was "that parent" that said, "You can quit!! I'll take you out! You shouldn't feel this way every day." Being already prone to social anxiety I worried that his self esteem would be altered for the rest of his life. It has been in those times that I met Isaac, the master of his own choosing. I learned that he has strength and courage of his own, he sees his own way and he knows! His inner light shines down the path that is right for him;) He chose to stay and in those following weeks, the remainder of the school year, he learned lessons AND gained confidence, that he wouldn't have had he quit. Now I know that sometimes my best work as a parent is to stand back, smile, hug, gently guide and listen. Press on Friends...the tough keep going!
#4. Friends are important. I'm grateful for this guy up there. So grateful I could cry!!! When God closes a door, He opens a new one. Case. In. Point.
#5. See with an eye full of light. Through this experience I've learned just a little better to see the positive. Because my kids need me to do that, especially here. Living and working with different people from different cultures where you come from different perspectives it can be easy mislabel/misunderstand someones intentions. "Oh Italians!" insert eye roll!! It's REALLY hard not to do that. Its been a first hand study in cultural relativism and self-improvement to catch and redirect that way of thinking.
#6. So I know I said "Don't let the exotic pictures fool you" but we have lived in Italy for 4 years. I still think to myself "Pinch me!!" regularly. Every day we waited for an exotic looking little yellow school bus that, by the time Isaac boards, has standing room only and sometimes picks up carless townies on the way. (can you imagine in the US!?). And Juliet, who gets on the same bus about an hour later, has about two kids riding it and a little Italian Nonna (grandma) who volunteers to ride with the little kids in case they need assistance. They pat her hair and comment on her dress, they honk for us if we're late and we talk to the bus driver like an old friend. It's been brutiful. Viva Italia for all it has taught us!!
A few pictures from the beginning. I hope I realized how cute my kids were back then because DANG!!! They are stinking cute!
