Sneakers

Today I learned that my 14 year old nephew and godson sold the last birthday gift we sent him, a pair of trainers he apparently didn't like. We took our time to pick them up for him, but it didn't work. I am not angry, but I am disappointed. We don't return gifts, exchange them or e-bay them. We keep them, and thank them. Even that horrible pair of Canadian horns my mother-in-law brought us when they visited Chicago. We may not display them, but they are somewhere here, they weren't thrown away, sold, donated. I think the new generation is losing all sense of manners. The blame should go on their parents, who laugh at their ideas, like my sister today. Not schools, not society, not the kids. It's the parents. You get your ticket in the genetic pool, and then you make the best out of it. At least you should try. As a mother of a mischievous two year old I know I will make many mistakes. But at least I try my best to teach my son a couple of basic principles: respect and generosity. If he gets those two, we are off to a good start. Let's see.

Terrible Twos

I had heard about them, but I had hope they would be another myth like sugar rushes. I was wrong, and had my first taste of them today. In one hour little adorable L broke the video player (yes, we still had one of those to watch old movies), ate eight chewing gums (not mine, someone probably dropped them at the party and he kept them hidden somewhere) and broke our coffee table in two parts (it was Ikea, but I still loved it, and they don't make it anymore). Not kidding, not exaggerating. He survived all the mishaps unharmed, and the nurse said the gum will eventually leave his system. But he could have hurt himself. He is fast and fearless, and I'm desperate. I'm seriously considering sending him to day care at least a morning a week. He will benefit from spending some time with other kids, and I can use one morning a week to tidy the house or iron (that's another thing about Spaniards, we iron even socks). With luck, I will be able to work. And it will break my heart, because I love him and spending time with him more than anything else in the world. But I tried to play with him today, to read him books, to do something together. It didn't work, and I realized... he is bored. He is tired of seeing me every single hour of every single day. He needs more independence, he needs to meet new people. I will drown myself in Margaritas tonight.